PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan aims to bring synergy between infrastructure and logistics across the length and breadth of India

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday announced the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan aimed at making logistics connectivity seamless across the length and breadth of the country.

Sitharaman described the Gati Shakti plan – a massive infrastructure development undertaking – to encompass the ‘engines’ of growth, namely roads, railways, mass transport, seamless multi-modal connectivity.

In deference to the request from many states, the outlay of the Scheme for Financial Assistance to states has been increased from ₹10,000 crore to ₹15,000 crore. The allocation for FY23 is ₹1 lakh crore to catalyse overall investments in the economy.

The 50-year interest free bonds are over and above the normal borrowings by the states. This will be used for Gati Shakti, rural road projects, town planning schemes etc.

The Gati Shakti project aims to create a synergy between infrastructure and logistics, both of people and goods, and location of projects.

Here are the key takeaways of the announcements under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan:

• A scheme for expressways will be formulated in 2022-23 to facilitate faster movement of people and goods.
• The national highways network will be expanded by 25,000 kilometres in 2022-23, with an outlay of INR 20,000 crores via financing.
• A new Unified Logistics Interface Platform will be brought in to facilitate data exchange between operators across different modes of transport, aimed at implementing a just-in-time approach for logistics management and giving access to real-time information to operators.
• A new open-source mobility stack for organising seamless travel of passengers will be facilitated.
• Contracts for implementation of multi-modal logistics parks at four locations will be awarded on a public-private-partnership (PPP) mode in 2022-23.
• Railways will develop new products and logistics services for small farmers, and small and medium enterprises.
• Railways will integrate railways and postal networks for seamless movement of parcels.
• A 2,000-kilometre railway network will be brought under ‘Kavach’ for safety and capacity augmentation.
• 400 new-generation Vande Bharat trains with better energy efficiency and passenger riding experience will be developed and manufactured over the next three years.
• 100 PM Gati Shakti cargo terminals for multi-modal logistics facilities will be developed in the next three years.
• ‘Innovative’ financing options will be encouraged for building metro systems of appropriate type and scale.
• Facilitation of multi-model connectivity options between mass urban transport and railway stations.
• Standardisation of metro systems and civil structures based on Indian needs.
• Parvatmala, a preferred ecologically sustainable alternative to conventional road systems in hilly areas – also known as National Ropeways Development Programme, will be undertaken in PPP mode.

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