Gati Shakti to mark paradigm shift in governance: KM Birla

New Delhi: Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla on Wednesday said that PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan for infrastructure 'embodies and combines' some unique features that mark a paradigm shift in governance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday unveiled Rs100 lakh crore Gati Shakti National Master Plan for Multi-Modal connectivity that aims to develop infrastructure to reduce logistic costs and boost the economy. "To me, Gati Shakti embodies and combines some unique features that mark a paradigm shift in governance," Birla said, while participating at the event.

Using the most modern technology, Gati Shakti brings all stakeholders on one platform, he added. "Such breaking of silos within the government is indeed a dream come true for all of Industry," he said, adding that the platform approach also increases transparency all around and helps resolve bottlenecks quickly. According to Birla, the outcome-based approach of Gati Shakti marks a departure from the traditional approach to planning.

"There is great emphasis and granularity in specifying targets in terms of outcomes and not merely outlays,"he said. Birla said that he cannot imagine any such government programme anywhere in the world with such large scale, and technology enabled real-time monitoring of development projects.

"This is yet another example where India is setting a global benchmark for digital governance," he said. Noting that building and managing high-quality infrastructure is a national enterprise, he said that roads and rivers do not respect state boundaries.

"A holistic approach to infrastructure therefore has to navigate the challenges of working through a complex federal system," Birla said. "It is almost like conducting a grand yet complex orchestra. The outcome is a symphony like Gati Shakti," he added. Tata Steel CEO and MD T V Narendran said that the launch of PM Gati Shakti will be a game changer for the industry. "It (Gati Shakti) will add to manufacturing competitiveness in the country.