PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan

At a Glance

• Launched 13 October 2021
• Nature Digital GIS platform for planning, not a funding scheme
• Nodal body DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
• Technology partner BISAG-N, Gandhinagar
• Pillars and engines Six pillars, seven engines
• Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Infrastructure and Connectivity Schemes

Where Does It Fit?

This is the first topic of the macro on infrastructure and connectivity. It is the planning layer that sits above most later topics, such as roads, ports, rail corridors and industrial corridors, because their new projects are checked on this platform. Previous topic: Central Bank Digital Currency – Digital Rupee (e₹) Pilot Project. Next topic: bharatmala-pariyojana-roads/" class="maargx-auto-link" data-preview="At a Glance Approved 24 October 2017 Ministry Road Transport and Highways Phase I length About 34,800 km Phase I outlay About…">Bharatmala Pariyojana (Roads).

What Is PM Gati Shakti and How Does It Work?

What Are the Six Pillars and Seven Engines?

• Comprehensiveness: all existing and planned initiatives of ministries are placed on one portal so each department sees the work of others
• Prioritisation: departments rank their projects through cross-sector interaction
• Optimisation: the Network Planning Group picks the best route for a project after studying gaps and critical links
• Synchronisation: silos between departments are removed so that work is coordinated across ministries
• Analytical: the platform gives geospatial data in one place, using more than 200 layers of information
• Dynamic: satellite images and progress data are updated so that projects are monitored and revised in real time
• Seven engines: roads, railways, airports, ports, mass transport, waterways and logistics infrastructure drive the plan
• Supporting forces: energy transmission, IT communication, bulk water and sewerage, and social infrastructure support the seven engines

What Else Should You Remember?

• Institutional structure: a three-tier set-up works with an Empowered Group of Secretaries headed by the Cabinet Secretary, a Network Planning Group of heads of network planning of the ministries, and a Technical Support Unit
• Empowered Group of Secretaries: it reviews and approves the plan, sets rules and settles disputes between ministries
• Network Planning Group: it studies each large project and gives integrated recommendations, mainly for projects above Rs 500 crore
• Logistics cost goal: the plan supports the aim of bringing down logistics cost, often quoted as 13 to 14 percent of GDP in older estimates, toward single digits, though recent official studies suggest a lower current figure
• Link with logistics policy: it works with the National Logistics Policy, 2022, and the Unified Logistics Interface Platform, as in National Rail Plan and Dedicated Freight Corridors
• State role: States are asked to build their own State master plans on the same platform, and many have launched State portals, with support from the Centre
• Social sector: the portal was later widened to include social infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and telecom towers, so that planning covers service delivery
• Last mile connectivity: the plan targets links to economic zones, industrial corridors, ports and gas networks, as in National Industrial Corridor Development Programme
• Early use: by its own reports the Network Planning Group has evaluated many projects worth lakhs of crores of rupees. Exact totals change often and should be treated as reported figures
• Target examples: the broad goals linked to the plan include more airports, a larger gas pipeline network, more highway length and expanded rail capacity by about 2024 to 2025
• Companion plans: ports are planned with Sagarmala, as in Sagarmala Programme (Ports), and roads with Bharatmala, as in Bharatmala Pariyojana (Roads)
• Digital tools: the Gati Shakti Sanchar portal speeds right-of-way permissions for telecom, and a similar portal is used for utilities
• Education link: a Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya was set up as a central university for transport and logistics training

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

1. Launch facts: date, ministry, technology partner and the count of pillars and engines are common one-liners
2. Institution questions: the role of the Empowered Group of Secretaries versus the Network Planning Group
3. Statement based: whether it is a funding scheme or a planning platform
4. Link questions: how it connects with Sagarmala, Bharatmala, UDAN and the National Logistics Policy
5. Common errors: giving Rs 100 lakh crore as a fixed budget, or naming the wrong nodal ministry

As an analytical point, Gati Shakti attacks a coordination problem more than a money problem. Many Indian projects were delayed because a road, a rail line and a pipeline were planned separately. A shared map reduces that, but only if States, local bodies and utilities actually update the data.

Why Is This Topic Important?

• Planning Platform, pillars, engines
• Institutions EGoS and NPG roles
• Links Logistics policy and corridors

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the national highway programme that Gati Shakti helps to plan. Next topic: Bharatmala Pariyojana (Roads).

Key People and Terms

• Gati Shakti Speed and power, the name of the plan
• BISAG-N Technology partner for GIS mapping
• Network Planning Group Evaluates large projects
• Empowered Group of Secretaries Top review body
• Multimodal connectivity Smooth movement across modes of transport
• Logistics cost Cost of moving goods as share of GDP

Exam Corner

Mains Angle

Questions ask whether integrated planning can reduce delays and costs. These points give a balanced frame.

• Benefits Fewer delays, lower cost, better last mile links
• Challenges Data quality, State buy-in, land and clearances
• Way forward Open data, local body use, outcome tracking