PM Gati Shakti-National Master Plan

In News

• Recently, the Prime Minister launched the PM Gati Shakti-National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity.

PM Gati Shakti

• About:
  • It was announced by the PM on the 75th Independence Day.
  • It is a national master plan for synchronising connectivity infrastructure projects across modes of transport.
  • It will help India realise its dream to become the “business capital” of the world.
  • Aim: Its aim is coordinated planning and execution of infrastructure projects to bring down logistics costs.
• Focus areas of Project: 
  • It will help raise the global profile of local manufacturers and help them compete with their counterparts worldwide. It also raises possibilities of new future economic zones.
  • It will help India to increase both manufacturing and exports. Every product that is sold globally from India is attached to India.
  • The plan includes 11 industrial corridors, achieving a Rs 1.7 lakh crore turnover in defence production and having 38 electronics manufacturing clusters and 109 pharma clusters by 2024-25.
  • For Railways, the target by 2024-25 is to handle cargo of 1,600 million tonnes from 1,210 million tonnes in 2020, decongesting 51 per cent of the Railway network by completing additional lines and implementation of two Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs).
  • In Civil Aviation, the target is to double the existing aviation footprint to have a total of 220 airports, heliports and water aerodromes by 2025.
• Importance to quality infra: 
  • It is globally accepted that the creation of quality infrastructure for sustainable development is a proven way, which gives rise to many economic activities and creates employment on a large scale.

Significance

• Coordinated efforts: It will bring together 16 Ministries including Rail and Roadways, that will help in removing long-standing issues such as disjointed planning, lack of standardisation, problems with clearances, and timely creation and utilisation of infrastructure capacities.
• Reduce turnaround time: Besides cutting logistics costs, the scheme is also aimed at increasing cargo handling capacity and reducing the turnaround time at ports to boost trade.
• Silo working reduced: It would address the problem of government departments and Ministries working in silos.
• Informed: It would also keep entrepreneurs and investors informed about the status of infrastructure projects and help state governments give time-bound commitments to investors.
• Harness potential: It will be a gamechanger for the industry and would harness the potential of the industry.
• Resolve historical problems: Its integration with the National Infrastructure Plan will help in resolving the historical problem of delay in project implementation and sporadic development and utilisation of national infrastructure.
• Whole of the Government Approach: With this approach, the collective power of the government is being channelled into fulfilling the schemes by avoiding delays caused by coordination gaps.
• Competitive products: It will make Indian products more competitive by cutting down logistic costs and improving supply chains.

Way Ahead

• Infrastructure development will play an important role in India’s aim to become a $5 trillion economy.
• India is seeking the use of innovative technology and materials in road construction and is open to adopting guidelines for use of new materials and technology.

Sources: IE + T