Proposed 4-lane highway to connect economic centres
Network Planning Group (NPG) constituted under the institutional framework of ‘PM GatiShakti’ has recommended 3 important road connectivity projects.
These are Construction of 4-lane Highway along Gazipur-Ballia-UP and Bihar State Border, Improvement and upgradation of existing road from 2-Lane to 4–lane in Uttar Pradesh as well as Moradabad-Kashipur bypasses in UP and Uttarakhand.
All 3 projects are important for the improvement and upgradation of the roadways with a view of multimodality, easier commute and land acquisition, the Commerce and Industry Ministry said on 3 Oct 2022.
Details of the recommended projects were released after the NPG’s 33rd Meeting:
Construction of 4-Lane Highway from Gazipur-Ballia along UP/Bihar State Border:
For better freight flow, and interstate multimodal connectivity in Uttar Pradesh is important. The proposal was for a 4-lane highway (in greenfield) to connect the economic centers — Lucknow, Varanasi, Azamgarh and Mau cities.
This will ensure shortest connectivity from south Bihar to Delhi. At Buxer a bridge on river Ganga is being constructed with spur which will enhance connectivity of South Bihar to Delhi.
The highway will serve the Lucknow defense corridor at two points (Banaras and Pruvanchal expressway).
Improvement and upgradation of existing road from 2-Lane to 4–lane in Uttar Pradesh:
The proposal was to make 2 lane roads into 4 lanes for upgradation and improvement of the roads. The proposal is for a 4–lane bypass at Palia-Shahjahanpur–Hardoi–Lucknow.
This project is a part of strategic border roads of Indo–Nepal border road project (INBRP) of Ministry of Home Affairs.
It will also ensure connectivity to Bardoi National Park, and enhance the freight flow and traffic movement.
Moradabad & Kashipur bypasses in UP and Uttarakhand:
The proposal was for a 4-lane Bypass Project (brownfield) for decongestion. The project provides interstate connectivity between Uttar Pradesh-Uttarakhand-bypass connecting major economic centers of the region.
It serves as a trade route for India–Bangladesh, and India-Bhutan–Bangladesh, as well as connection to Jim Corbett National Park in Nainital.
The NPG members have further suggested certain components of integrated planning and synchronized implementation concepts and have ensured faster clearance and support for the projects.
Through PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, it shall be possible to implement these projects in the coming years.
NPG has the head of Planning Divisions of the infrastructure Ministries including, the Ministry of Railways, MoRTH, Power, MoPNG, DoT, MoCA, MoPSW, Transport Department, Ministry of Ports, Waterways, PwD, PSU, PMT, DS SM & PPP with a special representative from NITI Aayog and MoEF&CC. Logistics Division, DPIIT functions as the secretariat of PM GatiShakti. fiinews.com
