In a proactive move to promote wider adoption of the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP), the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is conducting weekly review meetings with States and Union Territories (UTs). The aim is to monitor and provide support for the efficient and effective utilization of their State Master Plan (SMP) portals for infrastructure planning and implementation.
A recent review meeting, held in New Delhi on August 31, 2023, focused on the Western and Central Zones States/UTs of India. Chaired by Special Secretary (Logistics) at DPIIT, Ms. Sumita Dawra, the meeting witnessed active participation from several States and UTs, including Maharashtra, Goa, Rajasthan, Daman & Diu, Dadar & Nagar Haveli, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
During the meeting, Special Secretary Dawra emphasized the significance of leveraging the GatiShakti NMP/SMP portal and adopting a ‘whole of government’ approach for infrastructure and social sector planning.
Key benefits of the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP) were highlighted, which include:
- Optimized Route Planning: Utilizing data layers and tools for data-driven decision making, enabling efficient route planning.
- Enhanced Visibility: Improving visibility of intersections, encompassing forests, economic zones, archaeological sites, and more.
- Time and Cost Savings: Facilitating planning and implementation of infrastructure projects through digital surveys on NMP, resulting in higher accuracy in Detailed Project Reports (DPR).
States/UTs have been actively embracing the PM GatiShakti approach for various purposes, such as planning connectivity to Industrial Regions and determining the location of essential social infrastructure assets like anganwadis, schools, and hospitals.
Moreover, States/UTs have been integrating their existing development programs and schemes with the GIS-based NMP/SMP, leading to more effective planning. For instance, the State of Uttar Pradesh integrated its Pahunch portal with the SMP, aiding in decision-making about the suitability of new school sites based on parameters like population, connectivity, and teacher-pupil ratio. Similarly, the Gujarat Government utilized the PM GatiShakti NMP/SMP for planning its coastal corridor to boost tourism, while Goa employed the system to plan disaster management and evacuation routes during floods, reducing potential loss of life.
To ensure wider adoption of PM GatiShakti NMP, it was emphasized that States/UTs should:
- Maintain regular institutional mechanism meetings at the state level.
- Ensure the quality of data layers on NMP/SMP portals.
- Use SMP for project planning and implementation, facilitating Ease of Logistics, Ease of Living, and Ease of Doing Business.
Encouragingly, 22 states have already notified their State Logistics Policies (SLPs), aligning them with the National Logistics Policy (NLP) to place a comprehensive focus on ‘logistics’ in state-level public policy.
Furthermore, States/UTs were enlightened about the advantages of employing PM GatiShakti NMP/SMP at the district level for planning purposes. This approach can streamline various challenges such as land acquisition, approvals, utility coordination, and administrative assistance, expediting and ensuring time-bound project implementation. States/UTs were urged to identify pilot areas for implementing planning and analysis through the PM GatiShakti NMP/SMP, reinforcing the importance of district-level involvement in social and economic planning.
In conclusion, the DPIIT’s commitment to bolstering the adoption of the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan underscores its dedication to enhancing infrastructure planning and development across India. By promoting collaborative efforts among States/UTs and ensuring a data-driven approach, this initiative is poised to pave the way for streamlined project implementation and more efficient resource utilization.
