Cabinet nods to implementation of PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan

PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan

In a recent development, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has given a green signal to the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan including the institutional framework for launching, executing, monitoring and support mechanism for establishing multi-modal connectivity.

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, recently, launched the PM Gati Shakti NMP for multi-modal connectivity on October 13, 2021. The implementation framework for the NMP includes Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGOS), Network Planning Group (NPG) and Technical Support Unit (TSU) with required technical competencies.

EGOS will be led by the Cabinet Secretary and will consist of Secretaries of 18 Ministries as members and Head of Logistics Division as Member Convenor. The Group has been tasked to review and monitor the implementation of the PM Gati Shakti NMP to ensure logistics efficiency. It is empowered to prescribe framework and norms for undertaking any subsequent amendments to the NMP. EGOS shall also set out the procedure and definitive framework for synchronisation of various activities, and ensure that various initiatives of infrastructure development are a part of the common integrated digital platform. EGOS will also look at the interventions required to meet the demand side, for efficiently transporting bulk goods on the requirement of various Ministries like Steel, Coal, Fertilizer, etc.

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The Cabinet Committee has also nodded for the formation, composition and terms of reference for Network Planning Group (NPG). The Group will consist of heads of the Network Planning wing of respective infrastructure ministries and it will assist the EGOS.

Further, in view of the complexities involved in the overall integration of networks, enhancing optimisation to avoid duplication of works for holistic development of any region as well as reducing logistics costs through micro-plan detailing, the Technical Support Unit (TSU) is approved for providing the required competencies. The structure of TSU has also been approved. TSU shall have domain experts from various infrastructure sectors as Aviation, Maritime, Public Transport, Rail, Roads & Highways, Ports, etc. and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) as Urban and Transport Planning, Structures (Roads, Bridges and Buildings), Power, Pipeline, GIS, ICT, Finance/Market PPP, logistics, Data Analytics, etc.

The PM Gati Shakti NMP is intended to break Departmental Silos and bring in more holistic and integrated planning and execution of projects with a view to addressing the issues of Multi-Modal connectivity and last-mile connectivity. This will help in cutting the logistics cost. This will translate into enormous economic gains to consumers, farmers, youth as well as those engaged in businesses.

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With the Cabinet Committees nod, the rollout of the PM Gati Shakti will get further momentum which will result in the holistic and integrated planning framework for infrastructure development in the country.

Also, the NMP shall bring various stakeholders together and help integrate different modes of transportation. Further, it will ensure holistic governance that is citizen-centric, industry-centric, apt for manufacturers and the farmers of the nation.

(With inputs from PIB)