The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP), including the institutional framework for rolling out, implementation, monitoring and support mechanism for providing multi-modal connectivity.

The Prime Minister launched PM GatiShakti NMP for multi-modal connectivity on 13 October 2021. Implementation framework includes Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGOS), Network Planning Group (NPG) and Technical Support Unit (TSU) with required technical competencies.

EGOS will be headed by Cabinet Secretary and consist of Secretaries of 18 ministries as members and head of Logistics Division as Member Convenor.

The EGOS has been mandated to review and monitor the implementation of the PM GatiShakti NMP to ensure logistics efficiency. It is empowered to prescribe framework and norms for undertaking any subsequent amendments to the NMP.

EGOS shall also set out the procedure and definitive framework for synchronization of various activities and ensure that multiple infrastructure development initiatives are part of the common integrated digital platform. EGOS will also look at the interventions required to meet the demand side in efficiently transporting bulk goods on the requirement of various ministries like Steel, Coal, Fertilizer, etc.

CCEA has also approved formation, composition and terms of reference for the Network Planning Group (NPG) consisting of heads of the Network Planning wing of respective infrastructure ministries, and it will assist the EGOS.

Further, given the complexities involved in the overall integration of networks, enhancing optimization to avoid duplication of works for holistic development of any region and reducing logistics costs through micro-plan detailing, the Technical Support Unit (TSU) is approved for providing the required competencies.

The structure of TSU has also been approved. TSU shall have domain experts from various infrastructure sectors as Aviation, Maritime, Public Transport, Rail, Roads & Highways, Ports, etc. and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) as Urban and Transport Planning, Structures (Roads, Bridges and Buildings), Power, Pipeline, GIS, ICT, Finance/Market PPP, logistics, Data Analytics, etc.

The PM GatiShakti NMP is intended to break Departmental Silos and bring in more holistic and integrated planning and execution of projects to address the issues of Multi-Modal connectivity and last-mile connectivity.

With this approval, the rollout of PM GatiShakti will get further momentum, resulting in a holistic and integrated planning framework for infrastructure development in the country.