NPG Evaluates Road Projects to Enhance Multimodal Connectivity

MoRTH proposed a six-lane corridor from Salem to Kumarapalayam spanning 102.035 km along the Kochi–Coimbatore–Bengaluru freight and passenger corridor. The plan includes continuous service roads, upgraded junctions and interchanges, and widened bridges, flyovers and culverts to meet future traffic demand. The scheme is expected to enhance access to industrial clusters, logistics parks and railway terminals and support textile, agri-processing and manufacturing sectors.

MoRTH proposed a greenfield Amaravati Outer Ring Road of 189.93 km to decongest Vijayawada, Guntur and Tenali and provide dedicated interchanges for Vijayawada Airport and future rapid transit. The ORR is planned as a multimodal logistics corridor integrating with National Waterway-4 and ports such as Machilipatnam and Krishnapatnam, with projected travel time reductions of 30–40 per cent and lower emissions.

A two-lane road with paved shoulders of 62.10 km from Rafiabad to Tangdhar was proposed to strengthen border connectivity, improve access to villages along the Line of Control and support defence logistics while delivering socio-economic benefits in healthcare, education and tourism. MoRTH also proposed a 48.108 km Leh bypass to divert through-traffic, connect NH-01, NH-03 and Leh Airport and to boost trade and tourism.

Other proposals include widening the 77.102 km Chitrakoot–Satna corridor from a two-lane to a four-lane divided carriageway to ease freight movement and improve access to cement plants and tourist destinations, and a 156.10 km four-lane greenfield highway from Rourkela to Sithiyo to link Special Economic Zones (SEZs), seafood clusters and major national corridors. The nine point nine eight km six-lane Patna Ring Road segment from Kanhauli to Sherpur is intended to decongest Patna and improve access to Bihta Airport and regional logistics hubs. Collectively, the schemes are expected to boost freight movement, shorten travel times and stimulate local economic activity in their catchment areas.