Empowering Gati Shakti

Done the right way, the smart platform for infrastructure planning and execution could lead to tremendous productivity benefits

- SHYAM PONAPPA

The National Master Plan for logistics development on a digital platform, Gati Shakti (speed and strength), was introduced in October 2021. It is a much-needed initiative to introduce effective management systems in coordinating relevant ministries for all aspects of transportation and logistics.

It establishes digitised institutional processes for comprehensive, integrated project planning and execution, to assist ministries and infrastructure sectors in achieving results. The aims are more efficient outcomes at reduced cost and time. Done correctly, this will result in tremendous productivity benefits at a low cost and with better environmental impact.

A primary purpose of Gati Shakti is prioritisation for growth. Based on limited lay access (more on this later), an element that needs attention is telecommunications reform.

The need is for inexpensive, higher capacity/intensity connectivity, by enabling spectrum usage for wireless and shared networks at lower capital investment with better utilisation. The platform's effectiveness depends on this.

Gati Shakti is based on the recommendations of the National Transport Development Policy Committee¹ in January 2014. Government agencies such as the railways, roads and highways, shipping, aviation, power, telecom, and so on reportedly use this for integrated planning and execution. During the past year, ministries responsible for fertiliser, coal, ports and the like reportedly identified nearly 200 "infrastructure gaps" in first-mile or last-mile logistics.

An inter-ministerial expert panel monitors and recommends corrective action. Presumably, this will be tracked through the digitised database and portal, which also has geographic positioning capabilities.