The NMP for multi-modal connectivity had been launched by PM Narendra Modi on October 13

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP) for infrastructure development.

The Master Plan includes the institutional framework for rolling out, implementation, monitoring and support mechanism for providing multi-modal connectivity.

The PM Gati Shakti NMP for multi-modal connectivity had been launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 13. It aims to expedite and streamline infrastructure planning across the country.

According to the government, PM Gati Shakti is set to be a game-changer in inter-ministerial and inter-departmental cooperation in infrastructure planning.

"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," the CCEA said after a meeting on Thursday.

With the CCEA 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.

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

The EGOS will be headed by Cabinet Secretary and will have Secretaries of 18 Ministries as members and Head of Logistics Division as Member Convenor.

It has been mandated to review and monitor implementation of the PM Gati Shakti NMP to ensure logistics efficiency. It is empowered to prescribe framework and norms for undertaking any subsequent amendments to the NMP.

According to a CCEA press release, the EGOS shall set out the procedure and definitive framework for synchronization of various activities, and ensure that various initiatives of infrastructure development are part of the common integrated digital platform.

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

Further, in view of the complexities involved in overall integration of networks, enhancing optimization to avoid duplication of works for holistic development of any region as well as reducing logistics costs through micro-plan detailing, the Technical Support Unit (TSU) has also been approved for providing the required competencies.

The structure of TSU has also been approved.

"It shall have domain experts from various infrastructure sectors as Aviation, Maritime, Public Transport, Rail, Roads & Highways, Ports, etc. and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) as Urban & Transport Planning, Structures (Roads, Bridges & Buildings), Power, Pipeline, GIS, ICT, Finance/Market PPP, logistics, Data Analytics, etc," the CCEA said.
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