Introduction
The National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity in India, or Gati Shakti, was introduced by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi on October 13, 2021. The scheme was launched to build world-class infrastructure in India in an integrated manner. It is a platform to bring 16 different ministries together to coordinate and implement infrastructure connectivity projects. The seamless connectivity for logistics and services between modes of transportation is made possible by multi-modal connectivity. It will enable the last-mile connectivity of transportation and shorten travel time for people.
This plan aims to increase the number of primary areas such as roads, railways, airports, ports, waterways, and logistics infrastructure. One major step is the creation of a one-stop national single-window system, where people interested in developing infrastructure can file proposals online and track their progress. This also means plans like Bharatmala, Sagarmala, inland waterways, dry/land ports and UDAN are now operated on one digital platform. Moreover, the scheme plans to strengthen economic zones such as agri-zones, electronic parks, defence corridors, textile and pharmaceutical clusters, industrial corridors, and fishing clusters. The objective of Gati Shakti is to enhance connectivity and make Indian businesses more competitive in nature.
A milestone of assessing 208 big-ticket infrastructure projects worth Rs. 15,39,000 crore (US$ 174.99 billion) of various Ministries adhering to PM Gati Shakti principles has been achieved.
Need for PM Gati Shakti Yojna
- In the past, there was difficulty with different departments not coordinating well. For example, a road would be built, and another department would dig it up later for things like laying underground cables or gas pipelines, which caused a lot of inconvenience and resulted in being a waste of money. Now all the departments are under the same roof and must coordinate with each other, which will save considerable rework.
- The PM Gati Shakti initiative attempts to solve issues such as long approval processes and difficulty of regulatory clearance. To overcome past challenges, the government has given high priority to infrastructure in recent years.
- The establishment of comprehensive last-mile and multi-modal connectivity infrastructure across the country is necessary to achieve a US$ 5 trillion economy by 2025. This will ensure a balanced mix of transportation methods, lower logistics expenditure, improved export competitiveness, a helpful cycle of more investments in India, and a boost to economic growth and job creation.
Six Pillars of PM Gati Shakti
- Comprehensiveness: It will combine all current and future proposals from different ministries and departments into a single central portal (Gati Shakti scheme) with this structure. Every department will be able to see each other's activities and ongoing projects, which will be crucial data for planning and comprehensively executing projects.
- Prioritisation: Different departments can prioritise their projects by cooperating across sectors and considering the ongoing projects of other departments and the priorities of a project.
- Optimisation: Gati Shakti will help different ministries in project organising by recognising crucial gaps between projects. For example, for transporting goods from one location to another, the scheme will aid in selecting the most effective path in terms of time and cost.
- Synchronisation: Before this scheme, different ministries and departments mostly conducted projects independently, leading to a lack of coordination in project planning and resulting in longer time to execute. This scheme aims to coordinate the efforts of each department and various levels of governance broadly to make sure they coordinate work among them.
- Analytical: By combining all the data in one place and utilising GIS-based spatial planning and more than 200-layer analytical tools, the plan will improve visibility for the executing agency.
- Dynamic: All ministries and departments will now be able to visualise, assess and monitor the advancement of cross-sectoral projects using the GIS platform. This is because the portal will receive regular updates on project progress and satellite imagery will provide on-ground progress at regular intervals. It will assist in determining the essential actions to improve and update the master plan.
Engines driving PM Gati Shakti national master plan
PM Gati Shakti is a revolutionary strategy for sustainable development and economic growth. Seven engines power the approach:
- Railways
- Roads
- Ports
- Waterways
- Airports
- Mass Transport
- Logistics Infrastructure
The development will display in accordance with all seven engines. The supportive functions for energy transmission, information and communications technology, bulk water and sewerage, and social infrastructure cooperate to power these engines. The strategy is driven by Sabka Prayas and Clean Energy, which are the joint efforts of the federal government, state governments and private sector. These initiatives will create significant job and business opportunities for everyone, particularly for the younger generation.
The seven engines for seamless multi-modal connectivity, efficient logistics and economic transformation will all be included in the scope of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. The plan will include infrastructure developed by state governments in compliance with the Gati Shakti Master Plan. The primary focus areas will be planning, financing—including through innovative means and use of technology—and quicker implementation.
According to the PM Gati Shakti framework, the seven engines' ‘National Infrastructure Pipeline’ projects will be implemented. The Master Plan's foundation will be excellent modern infrastructure and logistics coordination between various means of transportation for people and goods as well as project locations. Productivity will increase as a result, and economic development and growth will accelerate.
On February 10, 2026, the Government stated that the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMGS-NMP) had evaluated 352 infrastructure projects with a total estimated cost of Rs. 16.10 lakh crore (US$ 178.89 billion) through the Network Planning Group (NPG) mechanism. Of these, 201 projects had been sanctioned, and 167 projects were under implementation, aimed at improving multimodal connectivity, integrated planning, and last-mile infrastructure development.
The Government also highlighted that Rs. 5,000 crore (US$ 555.56 million) had been provided to states under the ‘Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment’ in the form of 50-year interest-free loans to support PM GatiShakti-related infrastructure development projects.
On June 17, 2025, Union Railway Minister Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated India's largest automobile Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal at Maruti Suzuki's Manesar facility in Haryana. This terminal, with a capacity of 4.5 lakh automobiles per annum, is connected to Patli railway station via a 10 km dedicated rail link, part of the 121.7 km Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor. The Rs. 800 crore (US$ 90.96 million) investment was shared between the Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation and Maruti Suzuki.
Feedback received for PM Gati Shakti
Feedback has been received from a number of ministries. For example, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways uses PM Gati Shakti for ground surveys, land records and highway alignments, which saves time and money during project planning. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas uses the plan's electronic Detail Route Survey (eDRS) to generate reports more swiftly. The Ministry of Railways has completed the Final Location Survey (FLS) in FY22 much more quickly than in FY21.
Additionally, Morgan Stanley in its latest report appreciated the progress made by the PM Gati Shakti Yojna. It stated that the scheme has given a new fillip to the infrastructure development and multi-modal connectivity. The report cites World Bank's Logistics Index Report, 2023, it says the average Container Dwell Time in India was three days compared to four days for countries like the UAE and South Africa, seven days for the USA, and 10 days for Germany. In addition, Indian Ports "turnaround time" has reached 0.9 days, which is better than the USA (1.5 days), Australia (1.7 days), Singapore (1.0 days), etc. In FY24, ports overall cargo growth was 7%, with 53% of cargo handled by major ports (government-owned).
The Network Planning Group evaluated key infrastructure projects to ensure integrated multimodal connectivity, last-mile access, and a ‘Whole of Government’ approach, including new road and metro projects in Rajasthan, Bihar, and Jaipur, as well as railway expansions in Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, aimed at strengthening logistics, reducing travel time, and boosting socio-economic benefits.
Union Budget
Several key initiatives were introduced to strengthen infrastructure development and enhance data accessibility for better planning and execution:
Under the Union Budget 2026-27, PM GatiShakti was highlighted as a key driver of integrated infrastructure planning through a unified digital platform integrating more than 1,700 data layers across 57 ministries and departments. PM GatiShakti Public and the Unified Geospatial Interface together now provide access to 230 datasets to support investment decisions and logistics planning.
At the state level, 27 states have notified State Logistics Policies, while 28 Aspirational Districts have started using the GatiShakti District Master Plan Module for area planning, with plans to expand the initiative to all 112 Aspirational Districts across the country.
- Private Sector Access to Gati Shakti Data: For the first time, the private sector will be granted access to critical geographic and infrastructure data from the PM Gati Shakti portal. This includes information on railway tracks, highways, logistics parks, warehouses, and airports, enabling more efficient project planning and execution.
- National Geospatial Mission: A new mission has been announced to develop foundational geospatial infrastructure and data. This initiative aims to modernize land records, urban planning, and the design of infrastructure projects, thereby enhancing the utility of the PM Gati Shakti portal.
Gati Shakti Sanchar Portal
The Gati Shakti Sanchar portal is a major reform brought in to facilitate faster rollout of telecom infrastructure. It is a Centralised Right of Way (RoW) Portal that enables applicants such as Telecom Service Providers/Infrastructure Providers / Internet Service Providers (TSP/IP/ISPs) to apply for RoW approvals. As on April 15, 2025, 2,41,556 applications have been approved.
The portal is integrated with all 36 States /UTs and with relevant central ministries viz. Ministry of Railways (MoR), Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The government has opened the PM Gati Shakti portal to the private sector, enabling access to 230 data sets for improved infrastructure planning, last-mile connectivity, and investment optimisation.
Conclusion
The Gati Shakti initiative, which aims to improve connectivity, support economic growth, and improve the general quality of life for citizens, represents a remarkable step towards changing India's infrastructure landscape. Gati Shakti can promote innovation, drive sustainable development, and turn India into a global powerhouse by utilising modern technologies and a comprehensive strategy that unites multiple sectors. To ensure the successful implementation of Gati Shakti, we must continue to move forward, encourage collaboration among stakeholders and address obstacles.
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