Understanding the GatiShakti Masterplan: An Examination of PM Modi's Comprehensive National Development Plan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan on October 13, 2021. This comprehensive infrastructure initiative aims to revolutionise India's development by focusing on integrated planning and development of the country's infrastructure across seven key sectors: Railways, Roads, Ports, Airports, Mass Transport, Waterways, and Logistics Infrastructure.
Objectives of the PM GatiShakti Master Plan
The objectives of the PM GatiShakti Master Plan are multifaceted. The primary goal is to ensure seamless multi-modal connectivity across the country, enabling smooth movement of goods and people. Additionally, the plan aims to reduce logistics and transportation costs for businesses and industries by enhancing efficiency.
The plan also seeks to improve supply chain management and boost India’s competitiveness in global markets. It promotes integrated infrastructure planning by coordinating projects across ministries and states via a Geospatial Digital Platform. Furthermore, the plan aims to avoid duplication of efforts by different ministries and optimise resource allocation.
Key Features of the PM GatiShakti Master Plan
The PM GatiShakti Master Plan involves coordinated planning across 16 ministries using a GIS-based digital platform with over 1,600 integrated geospatial data layers, ensuring real-time synchronisation of infrastructure projects. The Network Planning Group (NPG), consisting of heads of infrastructure ministries, reviews and appraises projects to ensure adherence to the integrated planning model.
The plan targets the expansion of infrastructure such as building 200 new airports, helipads, water aerodromes, and expanding the national highway network up to 2 lakh kilometers. Investments under this plan total about INR 100 trillion, covering railways, roads, ports, mass transport, waterways, and logistics, with a significant push for sustainable and green projects (targeting 50% green projects by 2030).
Expected Improvements from the PM GatiShakti Master Plan
The PM GatiShakti Master Plan is expected to bring about significant improvements in travel and transportation time and costs, improving efficiency across sectors. It is also expected to enhance logistics performance, contributing to India’s improved ranking in the Logistics Performance Index.
The plan is expected to facilitate investments and participation of the private sector and green technologies for scalable and sustainable infrastructure growth. Integrated infrastructure developments are expected to support industrial corridors and manufacturing hubs, aiming to transform India into a global manufacturing and logistics hub by 2047.
In addition to infrastructure development, the PM GatiShakti Master Plan also includes plans to build mega food parks and agro-processing centres to double the incomes of farmers. The plan also aims to advance defence manufacturing towards an Aatmanirbhar Defence industry.
The PM GatiShakti Master Plan is a digital, integrated approach to transform and synchronise India's infrastructure development, reducing costs and delays, improving logistics, and fostering economic growth through multi-modal connectivity across critical transport and logistics sectors.
The Future of India with the PM GatiShakti Master Plan
The PM GatiShakti Master Plan is expected to create employment opportunities for lakhs of young people across India. It is also expected to help bring the Indian economy back on track after the COVID-19 slump. The planned expansion of the cargo capacity of the Indian Rail network will take the capability to 1,600 million tons.
4G mobile internet accessibility is expected to be provided across rural India by 2022. The electricity transmission network in India will be expanded to 4,54,200 circuit km in total. A must-watch video on how PM Gati Shakti will bring transformative change in infrastructure creation efforts was released on October 13, 2021.
The GatiShakti project could prove crucial come 2024 when PM Modi will conclude his second term and look to remain the office for a third consecutive term. The GatiShakti project is a vital tool for the success of the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' vision and will add impetus to projects part of the $1.4 trillion National Infrastructure.
The GatiShakti project also aims to enhance the National Highway network of India to 2 lakh kms by 2024-25. 17,000 kms of new gas pipelines will be added to the current infrastructure by 2024-25. The project is expected to be a game-changer in India's infrastructure development, contributing significantly to the country's growth and development.
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