PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a Rs 100 lakh crore national master plan for multi-modal connectivity that aims to develop infrastructure to reduce logistic costs and boost the economy. PM Gati Shakti targets to cut logistic costs, increase cargo handling capacity and reduce the turnaround time, Modi said at a function to launch the plan. Unveiling the plan, Modi said that the programme will boost India’s self-confidence and make the country self-reliant (Atmanirbhar) as today, “we have laid the foundation for the next 25 years.”

 

The plan aims to lend more power and speed to projects by connecting all concerned departments on one platform, he said, adding that the infrastructure schemes of various Ministries and State Governments will be designed and executed with a common vision. Modi said taxpayers’ money in the past was ‘insulted’ through a lethargic approach to development work, with departments working in silos and there was no coordination on projects. Development, he said, is not possible without quality infrastructure and the Government has now resolved to develop it in a holistic manner. Gati Shakti joins different departments for the coordinated development of projects from road to railways, aviation to agriculture, the Prime Minister said. Stating that high logistics cost in India at 13 per cent of GDP was impacting competitiveness in exports, he said, PM Gati Shakti is aimed at reducing logistic cost and turnaround time. This, he said, will give a boost to India as an investment destination. The Prime Minister said that the speed and scale that India is witnessing under his Government was never seen in the previous 70 years of Independence. PM Gati Shakti plan involves the creation of a common umbrella platform through which infrastructure projects can be planned and implemented in an efficacious manner by way of coordination between various Ministries/Departments on a real-time basis.