What is PM Gati Shakti Scheme, Launch Date, Benefits

Infrastructure is the backbone of any nation’s economic growth. The government has launched the PM Gati Shakti Scheme to expedite infrastructure development and enhance multi-modal connectivity in India. The scheme coordinates various infrastructure projects on a common platform to improve planning and execution.

What is the PM Gati Shakti Scheme?

The PM Gati Shakti Scheme employs an integrated digital platform that leverages Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) to facilitate real-time project monitoring. It boosts connectivity and logistics efficiency by integrating multiple modes of transportation, including railways, roads, ports, and aviation. As a result, there is better coordination among ministries and reduced bottlenecks.

The PM Gati Shakti Scheme incorporates infrastructure schemes such as Bharatmala, Sagarmala, inland waterways, dry/land ports, and UDAN. The scheme has onboarded 44 central ministries and 36 States/UTs, thus integrating 1,614 data layers. Key Ministries have finalized Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for a three-tier system to ensure accuracy.

PM Gati Shakti Scheme Launch Date

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the PM Gati Shakti initiative on the 75th Independence Day. The National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity was launched on October 13, 2021. The scheme marked a shift in infrastructure planning from a fragmented approach to a centralized and technology-driven framework.

PM Gati Shakti Scheme Benefits

PM Gati Shakti has transformed infrastructure planning, logistics, and multi-sector connectivity.

• Improved Infrastructure Planning: The scheme integrates 16 ministries to ensure coordinated planning and faster project execution. It has assessed over 208 major infrastructure projects worth over $180 billion, identifying and rectifying 156 critical infrastructure gaps, particularly in last-mile connectivity for key sectors like coal, steel, fertilizer, and food distribution.
• Boost to Manufacturing and Exports: Indian goods are now more competitive globally due to improved infrastructure and reduced logistics costs.
• Faster Project Implementation: The Gati Shakti platform’s integration of advanced technologies, such as GIS and data analytics, has reduced procedural hurdles. This is exemplified by the design of a 300 km coastal corridor in Gujarat, which cut NoC permissions from 28 to 13.
• Enhanced Multi-Modal Connectivity: The plan integrates road, rail, air, and waterways, exemplified by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways planning over 8,891 km of new roads and the Ministry of Railways mapping more than 27,000 km of new railway lines.

PM Gati Shakti Scheme Challenges

While the PM Gati Shakti scheme has numerous advantages, it faces certain challenges:

• Land ownership disputes frequently cause delays in infrastructure projects, slowing down their overall progress.
• The lack of proper digitization of essential government records, like land documents, hampers seamless decision-making and execution.
• The Ministry of Electronics and IT has raised concerns about sharing valuable infrastructure data, fearing unauthorized access and monetization risks.
• Adopting advanced geospatial technology and digital planning tools requires a skilled workforce and substantial investment consistently.

PM Gati Shakti Scheme Facts

The following are some key facts about the PM Gati Shakti Scheme:

• The government will allow private companies to access select data and maps from the PM Gati Shakti portal, aiding infrastructure planning, investment decisions and logistics improvements.
• A District Master Plan (DMP) portal is being developed to implement PM Gati Shakti at the district level. A beta version is active in 28 aspirational districts, with full nationwide rollout set for March 31, 2025.
• 434 projects have been identified under PM Gati Shakti, including 192 Energy, Mineral, and Cement Corridor projects, 200 High Traffic Density Corridor projects, and 42 Port Connectivity Corridor projects. It has a total investment of ₹11.17 trillion.
• As of October 31, 2024, 91 Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCTs) have been commissioned, 234 projects received in-principle approvals and 339 new terminal applications have been submitted.
• The government has sanctioned 68 projects covering 6,290 km with an investment of ₹1.11 trillion, while 88 projects spanning 10,603 km are under appraisal, with a proposed cost of ₹2.25 trillion.

Why was the PM Gati Shakti Scheme implemented?

The PM Gati Shakti Scheme was launched to improve India’s logistics and infrastructure planning. Before this scheme, different government departments worked separately which often led to delays and increased costs in building infrastructure. The scheme aims to bring together various Ministries and use digital tools to make it easier to do business, attract investments, and boost competitiveness on a global scale.

Six Pillars of the PM Gati Shakti Scheme

The PM Gati Shakti Scheme is based on 6 main pillars:

1. Comprehensiveness: The PM Gati Shakti scheme consolidates various Ministries’ initiatives into a centralized digital platform to coordination and providing real-time visibility of projects.
2. Prioritization: Ministries can prioritize infrastructure projects by considering cross-sectoral dependencies. It helps minimize delays and improve resource allocation.
3. Optimization: The National Master Plan helps Ministries identify critical infrastructure gaps and decide on the most cost-effective transportation routes for moving goods and services.
4. Synchronization: The scheme helps different government bodies work together in real time, reducing delays in project execution. It also allows for better coordination between Ministries, Departments and various levels of governance.
5. Analytical Approach: The platform offers tools for spatial planning and analysis based on GIS, featuring over 200 layers. Agencies can access all the necessary data in one location.
6. Dynamic Adaptation: Ministries can see and track project progress using satellite images and real-time updates.

To Sum Up

The PM Gati Shakti scheme is transforming India’s infrastructure landscape. The government’s move to provide private sector access to PM Gati Shakti data will enhance infrastructure planning and logistics efficiency. With its all-encompassing approach, the scheme aims to improve India’s global competitiveness and revolutionize infrastructure planning.

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