PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan: Government Scheme for UPSC

PM Gati Shakti is India's National Master Plan for Multi-Modal Connectivity, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 13, 2021. It is a transformative digital platform designed to bring integrated infrastructure development across the country with a proposed investment of Rs100 lakh crore over five years.

• Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) accorded approval for the implementation of PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan on 21st October 2021.
• Built as a GIS-based (Geographic Information System) digital platform integrating 57 central ministries and 36 States/UTs on a single portal.
• Integrates major infrastructure schemes, including Bharatmala (highways), Sagarmala (ports), UDAN (aviation), inland waterways, and dry land ports.
• Focuses on seamless multimodal connectivity, the movement of people and goods across railways, roads, ports, waterways, and airports.
• PM GatiShakti is a transformative approach for economic growth and sustainable development. The approach is driven by 7 engines, namely: Railways, Roads, Ports, Waterways, Airports, Mass Transport, and  Logistics Infrastructure.

Also read: PM SVANidhi Scheme: Empowering Urban Street Vendors

PM Gati Shakti aims to create a more coordinated, efficient, and faster infrastructure development system in India.

• Enhance Multimodal Connectivity: Improve last-mile connectivity between railways, roads, ports, airports, and waterways for seamless movement of goods and people.
• Reduce Logistics Costs: Bring down India's logistics costs from 13-14% of GDP to the global standard of 8% by eliminating inefficiencies.
• Break Department Silos: End the practice of each ministry working independently and creating a "Whole-of-Government" approach with synchronised planning and execution.
• Accelerate Project Implementation: Reduce bureaucratic delays and speed up infrastructure project approvals and execution.
• Ensure Last-Mile Connectivity: Provide good connectivity even to remote, tribal, and hilly areas, not just major economic centres.
• Support Economic Zones: Enable better infrastructure for textile clusters, pharmaceutical zones, defence corridors, industrial parks, and logistics hubs to boost manufacturing and exports.

Also read: Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana

PM Gati Shakti is built on six foundational pillars that guide planning and execution. These pillars ensure comprehensive, efficient, and synchronised infrastructure development.

1. Comprehensiveness

• Integrates all existing and planned initiatives from various ministries under one centralised digital portal​.
• Provides complete visibility of each department's activities, enabling better coordination​.
• Incorporates economic zones like textile clusters, pharmaceutical hubs, defence corridors, and agricultural zones​.

2. Prioritisation

• Enables ministries to prioritise projects effectively based on national needs​.
• Allows cross-sectoral interactions to ensure resources are allocated to high-impact projects​.
• Helps decision-makers identify which projects should be fast-tracked​.

3. Optimisation

• Identifies critical infrastructure gaps and develops optimised solutions​.
• Focuses on finding the most cost-effective and time-efficient ways for seamless logistics​.
• Minimises redundant investments by identifying existing infrastructure capacity​.

4. Synchronisation

• Ensures synchronised development across departments and regions​.
• Avoids interministerial delays by enabling real-time coordination​.
• Prevents repeated construction of roads by integrating plans for cables, pipelines, and utilities​. 

5. Analytics (Spatial Planning & Data-Driven Insights)

• Uses GIS-based mapping with over 1,600 data layers for spatial planning​.
• Provides real-time tracking and monitoring of project progress​.
• Enables faster approvals and better decision-making through data transparency​.

6. Dynamics (Flexibility & Adaptability)

• Allows the system to adapt to changing circumstances and emerging needs​.
• Supports continuous updates and improvements as new data becomes available.

Also read: PM-JUGA Scheme

PM Gati Shakti represents a paradigm shift in India's approach to infrastructure development. It addresses long-standing systemic issues and positions India as a global infrastructure leader.

• Reduces Logistics Costs: India's logistics costs (13-14% of GDP) are much higher than those of developed nations (8%). Better connectivity through PM Gati Shakti will reduce these costs, making Indian products cheaper and more competitive globally.
• Supports Make in India: Better infrastructure connectivity helps industries set up manufacturing units, reducing their transportation costs and improving supply chains.
• Enables Inclusive Growth: By ensuring last-mile connectivity, PM Gati Shakti brings development to rural, tribal, and remote areas, not just major cities.
• Improves Project Delivery: With streamlined approvals and coordinated execution, infrastructure projects get completed faster and within budget.
• Technology-Driven Planning: GIS mapping and digital platforms allow real-time tracking and evidence-based decision-making.
• Supports Atmanirbhar Bharat: Better domestic infrastructure makes India less dependent on imports and more self-reliant.
• Employment Generation: Infrastructure projects create direct and indirect jobs for millions of people, especially in construction, logistics, and manufacturing.

Over four years, PM Gati Shakti has renewed how India plans and builds infrastructure. By connecting 58 ministries, all 36 states, and UTs on one digital platform, it has accelerated projects, reduced costs, and brought development to every corner of India.

1. Infrastructure Planning:

• Over 300 major projects have been evaluated using PM Gati Shakti principles for better connectivity and efficiency.​
• Over 600 projects are planned and mapped on the portal across all states.

2. State & District-Level Planning:

• All 36 States/UTs developed State Master Plans aligned with national goals.​
• 28 Aspirational Districts now have District Master Plans, enabling local and integrated development planning.

3. Social & Economic Development:

• Extended focus to schools, hospitals, anganwadis, and primary health centres to help remote areas get better infrastructure.​
• Identified infrastructure gaps and planned for education, healthcare, and postal services.

4. Capacity Building & Training:

• Over 20,000 government officials have been trained through iGOT courses and workshops.​
• PM Gati Shakti modules added to Central Training Institute curricula, with 250+ interactive sessions conducted.​
• MoUs signed with GatiShakti Vishwavidyalaya and Korea Transport Institute for skill development.

5. Reduced Logistics Costs:

• India's logistics costs reduced to 7.8–8.9% of GDP (from earlier 13–14%).​
• Port container turnaround time reduced from 48.1 hours to 30.4 hours.

6. International Collaborations:

• Working with Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Senegal, and Gambia to adopt PM Gati Shakti principles.​
• Geospatial technology is being shared globally for integrated infrastructure planning.

7. Digital Tools:

• Knowledge Management System (KMS) and Decentralised Data Uploading System (DUMS) launched for real-time tracking.​
• LEAPS 2025 (Logistics Excellence, Advancement and Performance Shield) to recognise leadership in logistics.

PM Gati Shakti is not only building roads and railways; it is reshaping how India plans development, connects communities, and grows economically.

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While PM Gati Shakti has made significant progress, several practical and systemic challenges are slowing its implementation and effectiveness.

• The Network Planning Group (NPG) faced internal challenges and ineffectiveness in coordination​.
• The government is planning to dissolve NPG and establish a new body, Gati Shakti Transport Planning and Research Organisation (GTPRO), indicating gaps in current governance.
• Land ownership disputes frequently cause delays in infrastructure projects.
• Complex environmental clearances required for infrastructure projects remain time-consuming.
• States and ministries need extensive training to effectively use the GatiShakti platform.
• Different ministries have varying priorities and timelines, creating misalignment​.
• Inter-state cooperation challenges in projects spanning multiple states.

To make PM Gati Shakti more effective in building India’s infrastructure, focused actions are needed to strengthen coordination, technology use, and inclusiveness.

• Improve coordination between the Centre, states, and ministries using digital tools for faster decision-making.
• Promote private sector investment through clear policies and incentives.
• Simplify and speed up land acquisition and environmental clearance processes.
• Expand the platform’s reach to include social infrastructure like healthcare and education facilities.
• Train government officials regularly and use new technologies like AI for better planning and monitoring.

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