6 Infrastructure Projects Recommended for Approval under PM Gati Shakti Initiative

• 29 Sep 2023

A recent official statement reveals that six infrastructure projects, involving roads and railways and amounting to Rs 52,000 crore, have been proposed for approval within the framework of the PM Gati Shakti initiative.

Key Points

• Review in 56th NPG Meeting: During the 56th Network Planning Group (NPG) meeting held on September 27; six infrastructure projects underwent assessment.
• These projects include four from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and two from the Ministry of Railways.
• Integrated Planning for Infrastructure: The NPG, an inter-ministerial body, conducts bi-weekly meetings to evaluate infrastructure projects.
• It follows a multi-modal approach, emphasizing coordinated efforts and comprehensive development in project areas.
• PM Gati Shakti Initiative: The PM Gati Shakti initiative aims to establish an integrated infrastructure system with the goal of reducing logistics costs.
• All logistics and connectivity infrastructure projects exceeding Rs 500 crore must go through NPG assessment and approval.
• Approval Process: Approval from the NPG is a prerequisite before projects can be cleared by the Public Investment Board (PIB) or the Department of Expenditure under the Ministry of Finance.
• The majority of projects reviewed by the group typically relate to roads, railways, and urban development.
• Role of NPG: The Network Planning Group consolidates various layers of geospatial data, combining physical and social infrastructure information with land records.
• This streamlined approach expedites planning and design phases, optimizing the impact of investments.
• Collaboration across Ministries: NPG includes representatives from multiple ministries and departments responsible for connectivity infrastructure.
• Heads of network planning divisions from these departments collaborate for unified planning and proposal integration.