PM GatiShakti Marks 5 Years: Goyal Eyes Multimodal Connectivity
Union Minister Piyush Goyal celebrates 5 years of PM GatiShakti, highlighting its role in transforming India's multimodal connectivity and logistics.
The PM GatiShakti National Master Plan has reached a significant milestone, marking five years of revolutionising India's approach to infrastructure. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal celebrated the anniversary on Tuesday, emphasizing that the initiative is set to enter a new phase focused on enhancing multimodal connectivity and boosting logistics efficiency across the nation.
Speaking on the achievement, Goyal noted that the plan, envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has successfully transitioned India's infrastructure development from a fragmented, siloed method to a highly coordinated, technology-driven, and "Whole-of-Government" framework.
A Unified Digital Backbone for Infrastructure
Launched on October 13, 2021, the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan was created to bridge the gap between various ministries, states, and Union Territories. By utilizing a common Geographic Information System (GIS)-based platform, the initiative ensures that planning is no longer done in isolation.
The scale of the project has grown immensely since its inception. Government data reveals that the platform now integrates:
- 58 Central Ministries and Departments
- All 36 States and Union Territories
- Over 23,493 distinct data layers
- 230 approved datasets for critical tasks like site suitability and connectivity mapping
Seven Engines Driving Growth
The success of the master plan lies in its ability to bring together seven critical infrastructure engines. These engines work in tandem to ensure that different modes of transport are not just built, but are seamlessly connected. The core pillars include:
- Roads
- Railways
- Ports
- Waterways
- Airports
- Mass transport
- Logistics infrastructure
Furthermore, the platform acts as a central hub for major national schemes, integrating efforts from Bharatmala, Sagarmala, inland waterways, and the UDAN scheme to create a unified transport web.
Expanding Horizons: From National to Local
Piyush Goyal highlighted that the impact of PM GatiShakti has moved far beyond high-level national planning. The initiative has successfully trickled down to influence infrastructure at the state and district levels, even touching upon various social sectors.
By fostering inter-ministerial coordination and data-driven decision-making, the plan aims to accelerate project execution and promote inclusive regional development. This ensures that growth is not restricted to major hubs but reaches the corners of the country through improved last-mile connectivity.
The Six Guiding Principles
As the initiative moves into its next phase, it remains anchored by six core principles designed to make infrastructure planning more efficient and ecologically conscious:
- Integrated Development: Ensuring all sectors grow in harmony.
- Multimodal Infrastructure: Seamless transitions between different transport modes.
- Last-Mile Connectivity: Ensuring goods and people reach their final destination efficiently.
- Expedited Land Acquisition: Reducing delays in the development process.
- Minimised Clearances: Streamlining the regulatory hurdles.
- Reduced Ecological Impact: Prioritising sustainable and green development.
With the focus now shifting toward even tighter integration between transport modes, the government aims to further strengthen the movement of goods, ultimately reducing costs and boosting the Indian economy's competitiveness on a global stage.