‘PM GatiShakti empowering states’ decision making in social sector’

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By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi, September 2: The Centre has said that the PM GatiShakti is helping the States in better planning and selection of sites to connect with industrial areas, while also finding best location for schools on the basis of population, students-teacher ratio and other parameters.

The Centre has underlined various benefits of PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP) by leveraging data layers and tools for effective, data-driven decision making that includes optimized route planning; enhanced visibility of intersections from forest, economic zones, archaeological sites, etc.; enabling time and cost saving for planning and implementation of infrastructure projects, such as, use of digital surveys on NMP to streamline the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPR) with higher accuracy.

Special Secretary (Logistics), DPIIT, Sumita Dawra, said that the States/UTs are extensively using the PM GatiShakti approach for planning connectivity to Industrial Regions; for selecting the location of social infrastructure assets, such as anganwadis, schools, hospitals, etc.

“States/UTs are integrating their existing development programmes/schemes with the GIS-based NMP/SMP to achieve better planning. For instance, the State of UP, integrated its Pahunch portal with the SMP, for effective decision-making about site suitability of new schools, based on various parameters like population, connectivity, teacher-pupil ratio, etc. Similarly, the Gujarat Government used the PMGS for planning its coastal corridor to promote tourism,” she added.

The official further stated that Goa planned the disaster management/ evacuation routeduring floods to minimize loss of life, using the PMGS NMP/SMP portals. A review meeting was convened for the Western and Central Zones States/UTs of India, which was chaired by Special Secretary (Logistics), DPIIT, Sumita Dawra at New Delhi on August 31, 2023. The meeting witnessed participation by Maharashtra, Goa, Rajasthan, Daman & Diu and Dadar & Nagar Haveli, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

During the meeting, Special Secretary (Logistics) stressed upon the importance of utilising the GatiShakti NMP/SMP portal and adopting ‘whole of government’ approach for infrastructure and social sector planning. It was further emphasised that the States/UTs must hold regular meeting/workings of institutional mechanism at States/UTs level; ensure quality of data layers on NMP/SMP portal; usage of SMP for project planning and implementation to facilitate Ease of Logistics, Ease of Living, and Ease of Doing Business; while states/UTs are being encouraged to formulate State Logistics Policy (SLPs) aligned with National logistics policy (NLP) to bring holistic focus on ‘logistics’ in public policy at State level. So far, 22 States have notified their State Logistics policies.

“The States/UTs were sensitized about the advantages of utilizing PM GatiShakti NMP/SMP at the district level for planning purposes. To enable area-based development, it is essential to adopt PM GatiShakti principles for gap identification, project planning, etc. at grass root level. This is where the involvement of district-level officersbecomes crucial in implementing the area-based approach for social and economic planningwithin their districts,” said the Ministry of Commerce in an official statement.

The approach can streamline several challenges, such as land acquisition, approvals, utility shifting coordination, administrative assistance, and more, expediting and ensuring time-bound project implementation, said the Ministry, adding that “States/UTs were recommended to identify pilot areas for implementation of planning and analysis through the PM GatiShakti NMP/SMP”.