Cabinet clears PM Gati Shakti plan, approves 3-tiered system for monitoring

• The implementation framework includes an Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGOS), Network Planning Group (NPG) and Technical Support Unit (TSU)
• The EGOS has been mandated to review and monitor the implementation of the PM Gati Shakti NMP to ensure logistics efficiency

New Delhi: The Cabinet has approved a three-tiered system for the implementation of PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP) on Thursday. "The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, including institutional framework for rolling out, implementation, monitoring and support mechanism for providing multi-modal connectivity," said an official statement released in this regard. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the PM Gati Shakti NMP for multi-modal connectivity and infrastructure development on October 13. 

The implementation framework includes an Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGOS), Network Planning Group (NPG) and Technical Support Unit (TSU) with required technical competencies.

Secretaries to review, monitor implementation of PM Gati Shakti NMP

The EGOS will be headed by Cabinet Secretary and will 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 Gati Shakti NMP to ensure logistics efficiency, said the statement. 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 the synchronisation of various activities, and ensure that various initiatives of infrastructure development are part of the common integrated digital platform. The 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.

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

Further, in view of the complexities involved in overall integration of networks, enhancing optimisation to avoid duplication of works for holistic development of any region, and for reducing logistics costs through micro-plan detailing, a Technical Support Unit (TSU) will be formed 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 and 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.

'PM Gati Shakti NMP aims to break departmental silos'

"The PM Gati Shakti NMP is intended to break departmental silos and bring in more holistic and integrated planning and execution of projects with a view to address the issues of multi-modal connectivity and last mile connectivity. This will help in bringing down the logistics cost. This will translate into enormous economic gains to consumers, farmers, youth as well as those engaged in businesses," said the statement. 

"With this approval, the roll out of PM Gati Shakti will get further momentum which will result in holistic and integrated planning framework for infrastructure development in the country," it added.

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