‘All infrastructure projects of over `500 cr to be routed through PM GatiShakti’s NPG’

NEW DELHI: All logistics and connectivity infrastructure projects, entailing investment of over Rs 500 crore, would now route through the network planning group (NPG) constituted under the PM GatiShakti initiative with the Finance Ministry issuing the necessary instructions and creation of the national master plan digital platform,an official said.

According to an office memorandum of the department of expenditure dated April 28, a revised format has been issued for Public Investment Board (PIB)/Delegated Investment Board (DIB) project proposals.

“The revised format of the PIB/DIB memorandum... will apply to all the Public Investment Board/Delegated Investment Board proposals for new projects submitted on or after April 28, 2022,” it has said.

As per the revised format, proposals should include whether the project has components of logistics or infrastructure connectivity; and whether it has been examined by network planning group for convergence and integration at the conceptualisation or feasibility study stage.

The PM GatiShakti plan was announced last year with an aim to break departmental silos and bring in more holistic and integrated planning and execution of projects with a view to addressing the issues of multi-modal and last-mile connectivities.

This will help bring down the logistics cost and promote effective and efficient planning of infrastructure projects.

An integrated infrastructure network planning group has been constituted which has representations from various connectivity infrastructure ministries/departments involving their heads of network planning division for unified planning and integration of the proposals.

“We have created the national master plan digital platform. We have provided training to people concerned and now we have this mandatory provision from the finance ministry. So, now all logistics and connectivity projects will be approved on the principles of PM GatiShakti. All those projects, costing over Rs 500 crore will be considered by NPG,” the official said.

The Department for Promotion of Industry. and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has also conducted several training sessions with various government departments and held regional conferences across the states. The Technical Support Unit is also in place.