GATI SHAKTI NATIONAL MASTER PLAN - AIMING FOR A SEA CHANGE IN INDIAN RAILWAYS

IN TIME, THE INDIAN RAILWAY WILL UNDERTAKE ITS RIGHTFUL POSITION AS A GLOBAL LEADER IN RAILWAYS BY ADVANCING AS A CREATOR AND INNOVATOR OF TECHNOLOGIES AND SYSTEMS.

- VIVEK LOHIA

INFRASTRUCTURE IS CONSIDERED THE CORNERSTONE of the economy because of the role it plays in influencing growth through a variety of supply and demand side channels. The Government’s strategic initiatives and investment in the infrastructure sector are obvious sources of encouragement for the synergic growth of the Indian economy.

According to IMF projections, India has surpassed the United Kingdom as the world's fifth-largest economy, trailing only the United States, China, Japan, and Germany. And what is more, the Indian Railways, one of the largest transportation networks in the world, is fast becoming the largest potential market for introducing cutting-edge, modern technology and solutions. As a result, there is a need for a comprehensive infrastructure development strategy to increase industrial productivity and job prospects.

In lieu of this, the Indian government is implementing several projects in order to modernize its existing railway infrastructure and improve service quality. One of them is the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan unveiled by the Prime Minister on October 13, 2021, which is a transformative approach for economic growth and sustainable development and is driven by seven engines – roads, railways, airports, ports, mass transport, waterways, and logistics infrastructure. The Government has set a goal to invest US$1.4 trillion in infrastructure by 2030, and a whopping US$750 billion earmarked for rail infrastructure. With the help of this strategy, all government stakeholders, notably various ministries, would be able to plan and synchronize efficiently for multi-modal connectivity and leverage these investment plans to make India the global business capital.