Gati Shakti Enhancing Logistics Efficiency Across The Country

On the 75th Independence Day in 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the ‘PM Gati Shakti’ initiative. The National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity was launched on October 13, 2021. This digital platform is designed to bring various ministries, including railways and roadways, to ensure integrated planning and coordinated execution of infrastructure projects. The initiative aims to provide seamless and efficient connectivity for the movement of people, goods, and services across various modes of transport, thereby enhancing last-mile connectivity and reducing travel time.

The National Logistics Policy (NLP) was launched on September 17, 2022 to boost India’s economic growth by creating an integrated, efficient, and cost-effective logistics network. The policy aims to reduce logistics costs, improve India's Logistics Performance Index (LPI) ranking to be among the top 25 countries by 2030, and promote data-driven decision-making. Implementation is driven by the Comprehensive Logistics Action Plan (CLAP), focusing on areas such as digital logistics systems, asset standardization, human resource development, state engagement, and EXIM logistics.

The policy emphasizes training and capacity-building efforts in collaboration with the Capacity Building Commission (CBC). Training modules are integrated with Central and Administrative Training Institutes through webinars, workshops, and digital platforms.

The PM Gati Shakti initiative represents a transformative approach to infrastructure development in India, aiming to create a seamless and efficient multimodal transportation network. By integrating the efforts of various ministries and leveraging advanced technologies, this initiative seeks to enhance connectivity and reduce logistics costs across the nation.

The Gati Shakti Sanchar portal further supports this vision by streamlining the Right of Way approvals process, accelerating telecom infrastructure rollout, and facilitating the rapid deployment of 5G services across the country. With these combined efforts, India is well-positioned to achieve its ambitious goals of Aatmanirbharta.

It incorporates the infrastructure schemes of various ministries and state governments such as Bharatmala, Sagarmala, inland waterways, dry/land ports, and UDAN.

The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP) has onboarded 44 Central Ministries and 36 States/UTs and a total of 1,614 data layers have also been integrated. To ensure data accuracy, key infrastructure ministries have finalised Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for a three-tier system. SOPs for 8 infrastructure ministries and 15 social sector ministries have been notified, with development continuing for other ministries and States/UTs.

Its objective to go in for integrated planning and synchronised project implementation to improve multimodal connectivity, logistics efficiency and address critical infrastructure gaps for seamless movement of people, goods and services in the country. Under PM GatiShakti, integrated development of infrastructure is in consonance with the federal spirit. States and UTs have also replicated a similar institutional structure for integrated planning and synchronised project implementation through the PM GatiShakti mechanism. Around 36 States and UTs have been using their EGoS, NPG and TSU for project examination, planning, and synchronised implementation.

The Government of India has also issued the “Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure” on 6th April, 2022. The scheme provides guidelines for financial assistance to the State Governments of Rs one lakh crore in the form of 50-year interest free loan for capital investments including Rs 5000 crores earmarked for PM GatiShakti projects. Implementation of the “Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure” (Part - II), Rs 5,000 crore were earmarked for PM GatiShaktirelated expenditure in the States. 200 projects, amounting to Rs 5,496 crore have been recommended to DoE. 172 projects of 27 States, amounting to Rs 4,605 crore have been approved by DoE.

The 92nd meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG) was convened April 29 in New Delhi to evaluate infrastructure projects in the road and railway sectors. The deliberations focused on enhancing multimodal connectivity and improving logistics efficiency, in line with PMGS NMP.

The NPG assessed four major proposals — one from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and three from the Ministry of Railways (MoR). These projects were evaluated for their alignment with the core principles of PM GatiShakti, including integrated multimodal infrastructure, last-mile connectivity, and a whole-of-government and whole-of-area development approach. These initiatives are expected to reduce travel time, enhance freight movement, and yield significant socio-economic gains across regions.

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), through NHAI, has proposed a bypass around Rishikesh to decongest the city and improve traffic movement on NH-34. The Bina–Itarsi fourth railway line (236.97 km) is expected to reduce transit time by approximately 46 minutes and increase sectional speed by 10 km/h, contributing to faster and more efficient rail logistics.

Kasara–Manmad Multi-Tracking Lines (3rd & 4th Lines, 2x130.817 km) involves construction of 3rd and 4th railway lines across two sections: Kasara–Igatpuri in the Northeastern Ghats and Igatpuri–Manmad in the Deccan Plateau. The primary aim is to maintain a ruling gradient of one in 100, eliminating the requirement for banking engines and improving energy efficiency.

Bhusawal–Wardha 3rd & 4th Railway Lines (314 km): The proposed 314-km 3rd and 4th lines between Bhusawal and Wardha pass through five Maharashtra districts — Jalgaon, Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, and Wardha. The project includes new railway tracks, station upgrades, yard reconfiguration, and signaling improvements.

As part of the Mumbai–Howrah high-density corridor (HDN-2), this route is critical for decongesting freight traffic and strengthening the Central Railway network.

All the NHs development projects are planned in line with PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP) Principles. The Government has constructed 63,702 km NH length spread across the country in the last five years.

The developments have increased balanced regional connectivity and accessibility to NHs, and have increased logistic efficiency.