India monitors 396 mega infrastructure projects under PM GatiShakti

The Indian government is monitoring 396 major infrastructure projects under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP), representing an estimated total investment of ₹18.66 lakh crore. According to recent evaluations by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Network Planning Group (NPG), 256 of these mega projects have received formal approval, while 198 are currently in the implementation phase.

Launched on October 13, 2021, the PM GatiShakti initiative utilizes a shared GIS-based digital platform to integrate data from various ministries, states, and union territories. This system aims to eliminate the ‘silo culture’ that previously led to inefficiencies, such as the repeated excavation of newly constructed roads. The platform provides planners with access to over 23,493 data layers, including satellite imagery and geospatial data, to facilitate coordinated planning across sectors like roads, railways, gas pipelines, electricity, and optical fiber.

The master plan focuses on connecting economic zones—such as textile clusters, pharmaceutical hubs, defense corridors, and electronics parks—with multimodal connectivity. For instance, the Khagaria-Purnia corridor in Bihar is being integrated with five economic nodes and 11 logistics nodes to enhance the movement of goods and passengers.