Have 293 Major Infrastructure Projects Worth Rs 13.59 Lakh Crore Been Cleared Under the PM GatiShakti Plan?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 293 major infrastructure projects cleared under the PM GatiShakti plan.
- Investment of Rs 13.59 lakh crore earmarked for these initiatives.
- Collaboration among 57 Central ministries and departments.
- Logistics costs reduced to 7.8-8.9% of GDP.
- Ambitious targets set for national highways, railways, and airports.
New Delhi, Aug 5 (NationPress) A total of 293 significant infrastructure initiatives requiring an investment of Rs. 13.59 lakh crore have been assessed to date for integrated planning, multimodality, a whole-of-government approach, and last-mile connectivity under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, which was initiated in 2021, the Parliament was notified on Tuesday.
The Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Jitin Prasada, disclosed in a written statement to the Lok Sabha that currently, 57 Central ministries and departments, including 8 infrastructure ministries such as Highways, Railways, Ports, Power, and Communications, are engaged in the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan. Furthermore, 36 states and Union Territories are involved to enhance synergy between the Centre and states.
Prasada clarified that the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan does not have a dedicated fund allocation. However, the Ministry of Finance has allocated Rs 5,000 crore under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment for 2022-23 to support PMGS-related infrastructure development.
A study by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) indicates that India’s logistics costs have decreased to between 7.8-8.9 percent of GDP, a significant drop from earlier estimates of 13-14 percent following the implementation of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
This advancement positions India favorably for achieving world-class logistics efficiency through coordinated infrastructure development, as detailed in the report titled ‘Gati Se Pragati’.
Moreover, India’s rise in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index from 44th to 38th place in 2023 reflects positive momentum, although there remains considerable potential for further improvement, the report notes.
The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan is recognized as India’s most ambitious infrastructure coordination initiative, fundamentally transforming the nation’s approach to connectivity and economic growth. The report outlines a seven engines framework that includes roads, railways, airports, ports, waterways, mass transit, and logistics infrastructure, each contributing unique value to India’s connectivity landscape.
The program sets ambitious goals: to extend national highways to 200,000 km, boost railway freight capacity to 1,600 million tonnes, establish 200-220 new airports, and achieve comprehensive multimodal integration.
Economic impact assessments reveal significant multiplier effects from infrastructure investments, with every rupee invested generating between 2.5 and 4.0 times economic output, depending on the type of infrastructure. Roads and railways exhibit the highest multipliers, while emerging sectors such as inland waterways present substantial untapped potential.