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The Union Cabinet, on Wednesday, March 19, approved a series of high-impact projects aimed at boosting infrastructure, agriculture, and industry. These include the construction of a six-lane high-speed national highway in Maharashtra, a new urea plant in Assam, and revisions to key dairy and livestock programs.
High-speed highway to improve port connectivity
A six-lane, access-controlled greenfield national highway connecting JNPA Port (Pagote) with Chowk in Maharashtra has been approved at a cost of ₹4,500 crore. The project, spanning 29.2 km, will be developed under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model.
This road aims to decongest key transport corridors, particularly for freight movement between JNPA Port, the Golden Quadrilateral, and the Mumbai–Pune Expressway. Currently, heavy congestion in urban areas like Panvel and Kalamboli results in delays of up to three hours. The new highway, featuring two tunnels through the Sahyadri Hills, will significantly improve travel time and efficiency, especially for large container trucks.
New urea plant in Assam to boost fertiliser production
The Cabinet has also approved a ₹10,601 crore brownfield ammonia-urea complex at Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited (BVFCL) in Namrup, Assam. This plant will have an annual production capacity of 12.7 lakh metric tonnes of urea.
The project will be executed through a joint venture, with equity contributions from the Assam government (40%), BVFCL (11%), Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited (13%), National Fertilizers Limited (18%), and Oil India Limited (18%). The plant will enhance domestic fertilizer production, reducing dependency on imports and supporting farmers in Northeast India, Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh. The project is expected to create significant employment opportunities.
Expansion of Rashtriya Gokul Mission to boost dairy sector
The government has allocated an additional ₹1,000 crore to the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), bringing its total budget to ₹3,400 crore for the 2021-26 period. The revised program aims to improve cattle breeding, increase milk production, and support dairy farmers.
New initiatives under RGM include financial assistance for setting up heifer-rearing centres and interest subvention for farmers purchasing high-genetic-merit IVF heifers. Since its launch, the program has helped increase milk production by 63.5% over the past decade and has supported over 5.2 crore farmers through artificial insemination programs.
Revamped National Dairy Program for infrastructure development
The Cabinet has also revised the National Program for Dairy Development (NPDD), adding ₹1,000 crore to its budget, bringing the total to ₹2,790 crore. This initiative aims to modernize India’s dairy infrastructure, improve milk processing, and enhance supply chain efficiency.
NPDD will focus on upgrading milk testing labs, installing bulk milk coolers, and supporting dairy cooperatives, particularly in remote regions. It is expected to generate over 3.2 lakh jobs and establish 10,000 new dairy cooperative societies.
With these approvals, the government aims to accelerate infrastructure growth, improve agricultural productivity, and strengthen India's dairy sector, benefiting millions of farmers and businesses across the country.
Ref: CNBC TV18
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