PM launches GatiShakti National Master Plan to transform infrastructure development
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. The National Master Plan aims at multi-modal connectivity to economic zones and a single portal for 16 ministries for integrated infrastructure planning and development. The total budget allocated for this National Master Plan is $1 trillion.
GatiShakti will give direction to 21st century India: PM Modi
"We are laying the foundation for the next 25 years of India's development. The National Master Plan will give speed and direction to 21st century India. The people of India - entrepreneurs, industrialists, manufacturers, farmers, and youth are at the center of this mega initiative," PM Modi said. The GatiShakti initiative was earlier announced by PM Modi in his Independence Day speech.
What is PM GatiShakti National Master Plan?
PM GatiShakti is a National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity and includes infrastructure development for connecting economic hubs. It envisages a digital platform to integrate 16 ministries and departments for planning and development of infrastructure projects. It also aims to generate employment, reduce logistics cost, improve supply chains and make local goods competitive for global markets.
Why is GatiShakti National Master Plan needed in India?
PM Modi said that as the different departments and states work in silos, planning is affected. Therefore, these stalled projects become barriers to progress due to a lack of coordination. He cited the example of how a newly constructed road is dug up by different agencies for laying of water pipeline, gas connection, etc. GatiShakti aims to bring synergy in project planning.
Six pillars of PM GatiShakti National Master Plan
PM GatiShakti National Master Plan has six principles - Comprehensive, Prioritization, Optimization, Synchronization, Analytical and Dynamic. These six principles will help the 16 ministries and their respective departments to plan and develop infrastructure projects, prioritize and optimize projects using analytics, GIS-based spatial planning, and satellite images, etc.
How will PM GatiShakti National Master Plan help?
The plan will reduce the time for project approvals, multi-agency regulatory clearances, and coordination among ministries. It aims to connect economic corridors and zones like textile clusters, food parks, industrial parks, defense corridors, electronic parks, fishing, and agriculture zones. It will lead to seamless synergy in existing and new projects like Bharatmala, Sagarmala, inland waterways, National Highways and Railways, Shipping Ports, UDAN scheme.
