New GatiShakti Reforms: Transforming India’s Infrastructure and Logistics
Explore the new PM GatiShakti reforms, including offshore planning, private sector integration, and district master plans. Learn how India is optimising infrastructure, reducing logistics costs, and driving inclusive growth.
Introduction
Marking the fourth anniversary of the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP), the government has unveiled a suite of new initiatives to further enhance infrastructure planning, logistics efficiency, and inclusive development across India. These reforms build upon the platform’s digital, geospatial foundation and aim to make infrastructure projects faster, more coordinated, and environmentally sustainable.
What is PM GatiShakti?
Launched on October 13, 2021, PM GatiShakti is a digital geospatial platform designed to revolutionize infrastructure planning and execution. Its ‘Whole-of-Government’ approach integrates data layers from central ministries, state governments, and Union Territories into a single interface, ensuring better coordination. By providing planners with critical information on routes, project conflicts, and environmental considerations, the platform aims to optimize decision-making, reduce costs, and create multi-modal connectivity across India.
Key New Reforms
-
PM GatiShakti-Offshore: This digital module targets offshore projects such as wind farms, marine resource exploration, and coastal infrastructure. It integrates data from ministries like Power, Petroleum & Natural Gas, Environment, and Telecommunications, enabling coordinated project management.
-
Private Sector Participation: The portal is now open to private players, allowing them to optimize last-mile delivery services, develop infrastructure applications, and contribute to India’s logistics efficiency.
-
District Master Plans for Aspirational Districts: The platform has expanded to all 112 Aspirational Districts, promoting inclusive development by facilitating holistic planning rather than piecemeal interventions.
-
Other Initiatives: Several supportive tools have been launched, including a public-facing Unified Geospatial Interface, a National Master Plan Dashboard, a Knowledge Management System, and enhanced data uploading and management facilities. Additionally, the Logistics Excellence, Advancement, and Performance Shield (LEAPS) 2025 awards initiative recognizes top performers in the logistics sector.
Effectiveness and Impact
The PM GatiShakti initiative has shown remarkable results over its first four years:
-
Reduced Logistics Costs: Logistics costs have dropped to 8–9% of GDP from previous estimates of 13–14%, according to the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER).
-
Improved Global Rankings: India’s World Bank Logistics Performance Index ranking improved from 44th in 2018 to 38th in 2023, reflecting enhanced global competitiveness.
-
Widespread Adoption: 58 ministries/departments and all 36 states/UTs now actively use the platform for project planning.
-
Faster Project Execution: Early identification of potential project and regulatory conflicts has accelerated infrastructure completion timelines.
Significance for India
PM GatiShakti has emerged as a cornerstone of India’s infrastructure strategy, driving multi-modal connectivity, cost efficiency, and sustainable development. The addition of modules like the offshore platform and district master plans ensures that the initiative not only optimizes logistics but also promotes inclusive growth, particularly in underdeveloped regions. These reforms align with India’s vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047, making GatiShakti a central pillar in the country’s developmental roadmap.
Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more Valuable Content – TheStudyias
Download the App to Subscribe to our Courses – Thestudyias
The Source’s Authority and Ownership of the Article is Claimed By THE STUDY IAS BY MANIKANT SINGH
