A senior government official stated that up to 228 high-profile infrastructure projects, including roads and railways, from various ministries, totaling Rs 15.89 lakh crore, had so far been suggested for sanction under the PM GatiShakti program. The Network Planning Group (NPG), which was established as part of the October 13, 2021, PM GatiShakti program, has recommended these projects.
The PM GatiShakti method has many advantages, one of which is that it significantly reduces the time and expense required to plan these infrastructure projects. The group’s recommended maximum number of projects includes four from the oil and gas ministry, 108 connected to highways, 85 related to railroads, and 12 related to urban development.
In order to guarantee multimodality, coordination of efforts, and thorough development in and around the project location, the interministerial NPG evaluates infrastructure projects at its biweekly meetings. The goal of the effort was to lower logistical costs by creating an integrated infrastructure.
The NPG handles all logistics and communications infrastructure projects, which need investments over Rs 500 crore. Before the Public Investment Board (PIB) or Department of Expenditure within the finance ministry can approve the project, the NPG must approve it. The National Master Plan, or NMP, has more than 1,600 layers of geospatial data that display all of an area’s land records and social and physical infrastructure in one location. In order to maximize the impact of an investment, it has been created for better design and quicker planning.
For uniform planning and integration of the proposals, the NPG has representatives from several ministries and departments that deal with connectivity infrastructure, including their heads of the network planning division. Before submitting a DPR (Detailed Project Report) during the planning phase, each of these departments first seeks clearance from the NPG. Following the NPG’s approval, the project proceeds as usual.
The platform offers more than 1,600 data layers, including those pertaining to land, ports, forests, and highways. The portal’s use by several ministries, as well as states and social sector entities, is growing and aiding in project planning. Thakur added that the agency is integrating updated land record data in collaboration with the states.
