National master plan for multi-modal connectivity launched

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 13 launched the PM GatiShakti - National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity which aims to develop India's infrastructure.

The plan envisages a centralized portal including all existing and planned infrastructure initiatives of a total of 16 central ministries and departments. As a result, every department can now view each other's activities and can also provide critical data while planning and executing.

"We are laying the foundation for the next 25 years of India's development. The National Master Plan will give speed and direction to 21st century India. The people of India - entrepreneurs, industrialists, manufacturers, farmers and youth are at the centre of this mega initiative," Modi said.

"We are laying the foundation for the next 25 years of India's development. The National Master Plan will give speed and direction to 21st century India.

As a result of better planning, the entire process of infrastructure creation is expected to be streamlined beginning from land acquisition to implementation, connections between local, state and national level government bodies and corporate.

Gatishakti was first announced by Modi while addressing the audience at the Red Fort on the 75th Independence Day. Arguing that infrastructure creation in India had suffered for decades from multiple issues, the Modi government has been pointing to a major lack of coordination between different departments as a prime reason.

The plan is an important part of Prime Minister Modi's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (self-dependent India) vision and ambitiously aims to lend more power and speed to projects under the $1.5-trillion National Infrastructure Pipeline and boost the goal of achieving a $5-trillion economy, especially in wake of the recent economic impacts of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.