India's Transport Network Set for Major Overhaul: Pilot Projects For Centralised Terminal Hubs Planned In Katra, Tirupati, Varanasi And Nagpur

In a significant move to centralise and streamline India's transportation systems, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has announced plans to build integrated public transport and terminal infrastructure across the country.

These hubs aim to consolidate various modes of transport — roadways, railways, airways, waterways and ropeways — into a single location, thereby enhancing convenience for passengers and improving their travel experience.

The government plans to launch pilot projects in Katra, Tirupati, Varanasi and Nagpur, with these hubs being developed through National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLM), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

According to ministry officials, the initiative seeks to significantly boost the efficiency of both freight and passenger movement across India.

The proposed terminals are envisioned as one-stop solutions where different transport systems can interface and interconnect, addressing the needs of the 87 per cent of passenger traffic that currently moves through the country's road networks.

“Developing public transport and terminal infrastructure will deliver multiple socio-economic benefits. It will enhance passenger experience, reduce urban congestion, and stimulate economic activity by creating new city centres,” said a senior official from the ministry, reports Economic Times.

The official also highlighted the challenges that passengers currently face due to fragmented transportation systems. Travellers often struggle to navigate between state-run buses, metros, rickshaws, and congested city roads.

The new terminals, by integrating various modes of transportation, are expected to ease these difficulties and provide seamless connectivity, making transfers between different forms of transport more efficient and user-friendly.

A major step in this direction was the launch of the PM Gatishakti National Master Plan (NMP) in 2021, which focuses on upgrading multimodal connectivity infrastructure across various economic zones.

The NMP integrates significant infrastructure schemes such as Bharatmala, Sagarmala, and UDAN under a unified digital platform, streamlining planning and execution efforts across these major transport projects.

Complementing this is the National Logistics Policy (NLP), which tackles the development of integrated infrastructure while ensuring efficiency in services, including processes and regulatory frameworks. The policy is bolstered by the comprehensive logistics action plan (CLAP), which outlines specific steps for improving logistics operations across the country.

Together, the NMP and the NLP form a robust framework for creating a data-driven decision support system aimed at enhancing logistics efficiency and reducing costs in India's logistics ecosystem.

These efforts not only promise to transform India's transport infrastructure but are also critical to its long-term economic strategy as the nation strives to achieve developed status by 2047.