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A group of ministers reviewed five major infrastructure projects under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. These projects include the second phase of the Ayodhya airport, the Delhi-Panipat-Karnal Namo Bharat Project, and Line 4 of the Pune Metro. The meeting was led by E Srinivas, joint secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), which manages the Gati Shakti mission. The reviewed projects are located in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Tripura.

The second phase of the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya was a key project discussed. The expansion will increase the airport’s capacity from handling 674 passengers per peak hour to 4,000, and from one million annual passengers to six million by 2046-47. The plan includes a new terminal, extended runway, more parking bays, a fire station, an air traffic control (ATC) tower, and better access roads.

Focus on connectivity and road expansion

The review also covered the Delhi-Panipat-Karnal Namo Bharat (RRTS) Project, which aims to cut travel time between Delhi’s Sarai Kale Khan and Karnal from 3.5-4 hours to just 90 minutes. This rapid transit system will connect Delhi with key economic and educational hubs in Haryana, including Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Barhi Industrial Area, Panipat’s refinery, and Karnal. It will integrate with Delhi Metro at multiple points and link with major bus terminals and railway stations.

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Other projects reviewed included Pune Metro’s Line 4, which will connect Kharadi to Khadakwasla with an extension via Nal Stop, Warje, and Manik Baug. In Telangana, officials discussed upgrading NH-167 to a four-lane road to improve connectivity between Hyderabad and Raichur. Another road project focused on widening NH-08 in Tripura to ease congestion in West Tripura and Khowai districts.

An NHAI official mentioned that these reviews are mainly to address challenges that could delay the projects. Major changes are usually decided before approval, but interministerial coordination is considered if projects overlap in the same area. The reviewed projects are crucial for boosting regional connectivity and economic growth.