Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and Textiles, Piyush Goyalhailed PM GatiShakti as India’s revolutionary offering to the world, tracing its inception back to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s visionary thinking about 18 years ago during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. While delivering the keynote address at a seminar on “PM GatiShakti: Informed Decision-Making for Holistic Development” organized at the 10th edition of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat, today, the Minister projected PM GatiShakti as the future planning tool for infrastructure not just in India or Asia, but globally. Highlighting the historical context of infrastructure development in India, Goyal underscored the traditional challenges of prolonged delays and cost overruns in projects. He emphasized the Prime Minister’s unwavering pursuit of excellence and performance, rejecting mediocrity in infrastructure delivery. Reflecting on the genesis of PM GatiShakti, the Minister recalled the Prime Minister’s focused efforts to rebuild Gujarat after a devastating earthquake. Recognizing the pivotal role of infrastructure in repositioning Gujarat as an investment destination, the Prime Minister envisioned a robust infrastructure framework. Goyal emphasized the significant outcomes of PM GatiShakti while releasing the ‘PM GatiShakti Gujarat Compendium’. He lauded the dynamism, flexibility, and technological prowess embedded within PM GatiShakti. Underlining the significance of geospatial mapping and technology-based solutions, Piyush Goyal underscored the dynamic nature of the project, continually evolving and adapting to incorporate new data layers. He highlighted the interconnectivity of data layers, enabling better planning, analysis, monitoring, and implementation of infrastructure projects through PM GatiShakti. Speaking about the impact of delayed projects on consumers, the Minister emphasized that delayed infrastructure projects lead to cost overruns, affecting citizens’ finances. He noted the significant contribution of PM GatiShakti for faster, more efficient, and cost-effective infrastructure development to deliver maximum benefits to citizens. Citing the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link project, Goyal highlighted the immense benefit that the PM GatiShakti has brought for the efficient planning of large scale infrastructure development projects. Goyal noted that PM GatiShakti epitomizes the strength of India and heralds a new era of world-class infrastructure development, providing growth opportunities while transcending political boundaries. Union Minister Piyush Goyal commended the exemplary efforts behind the successful organization of the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit and extended congratulations to the PM GatiShakti team led by Special Secretary (Logistics), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ms. Sumita Dawra. The seminar saw participation from international organizations, Industry experts, State Departments, and PM GatiShaktiNetwork Planning Group, etc. fostering constructive dialogue and an exchange of ideas that will help in making the most of this transformative initiative. The day-long seminar comprised (i) a Technical session, (ii) a Plenary session, and (iii) a Panel Discussion. In the Plenary session, Special Secretary (Logistics), DPIIT addressed “The PM GatiShakti Initiative: Transforming India’s Infrastructure Landscape,” highlighting how the initiative, launched on October 13, 2021, aims to build Next Generation Infrastructure for improving Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business. Collaboration of Financial Institutions with PM GatiShakti, National Logistics Policy, EXIM Logistics, and PM GatiShaktias a tool for Global planning of infrastructure were key points discussed during the session. Recognizing the crucial role of PM GatiShakti in driving progress in various sectors, this seminar brought key stakeholders together to explore strategies and foster a culture of informed, data-driven decision-making for comprehensive and sustainable growth. It aided in generating valuable insights and recommendations to maximize the impact of this transformative initiative, improving Ease of Living as well as Ease of Doing Business.
