“Optimum alignment and connectivity is essential to promote multi-modal logistics. This is the lens via which we look at major infrastructure projects in the country. GIS-based Gati Shakti and National Master Plan is crucial towards these objectives”, says Sumita Dawra, Special Secretary (Logistics), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Govt. of India, in an exclusive interview with Geospatial World.
India is among the world’s fastest-growing economies, however, median logistics cost here is higher as compared to say, Southeast Asia. How can technology help address this chasm?
In India, it’s important that the logistics ecosystem is made more efficient. The PM Gati Shakti National master plan has been launched by The Honourable Prime Minister to ensure that infrastructure planning happens in a multimodal manner, boosting connectivity to the manufacturing centers, and easing the EXIM flow of goods and mobility of labor and passengers.
All the infrastructure works are being planned on that National master plan. At the same time, we are also improving the logistics-related services be it regarding ports or customer services to emphasize building a more efficient logistics ecosystem.
By 2030, we aim to be in the top 25 countries in terms of the Logistics Performance Index, from the current ranking of 38. In the past few years, our ranking has already improved by 16 places.
Seamless Connectivity is essential for linking manufacturing hubs in the hinterlands with ports and other transit corridors. What can be done to eliminate existing bottlenecks?
While we are planning any major infrastructure project, whether a railway Freight Line or an expressway, we have to look at connectivity to the existing infrastructure, which could be Panchayati Raj roads or state highways. We also need to ensure connectivity to manufacturing clusters, as well as to social assets such as schools or points of tourist interest.
Optimum alignment and connectivity are essential to promote multi-modal logistics. This is the lens via which we look at major infrastructure projects.
GIS-based Gati Shakti and National Master Plan is crucial towards these objectives. It helps us in data-based decision- making and avoiding disruptions around forest areas, wildlife sanctuaries, and areas of ecological interest.
India aspires to be a major manufacturing powerhouse, particularly in electronics and semiconductors, while also emphasizing tech innovation and sustainability initiatives. How can these goals be harmonized?
There’s a major capex push for next-gen infrastructure in the country and we are spending a tremendous amount of funds. There’s a historic budgetary outlay for building roads, railways, ports, power, telecom, etc.
By doing all of this in a planned manner, we are able to promote ease of doing business and ease of living at the same time. We are mindful of the intersection between them. To cite an example, on the Pune-Bangalore Expressway, it is due to the Gati Shakti National master plan that MORTH has been able to reduce the intersection with the forest area by about 20 percent.
The Ministry of Ports and Shipping Waterways is also planning a modal shift to inland waterways using the Gati Shakti platform, with an objective to have a modal shift by 20%.
Post-pandemic, companies are re-evaluating their supply chain strategies. How can India make its supply chains resilient to withstand future disruptions?
It’s crucial for supply chains to have good connectivity around manufacturing areas so that raw materials reach manufacturing clusters, and the finished products reach the markets efficiently. It is vital to reduce last-mile gaps.
We have identified about 156 critical infrastructure gaps. This has resulted in a comprehensive port connectivity plan as well. We are now sanctioning projects to take care of the infrastructure gaps and streamline the movement of raw material as well as manufactured goods that will bring down the cost of logistics and attract capital.
How will fast infrastructure development and uninterrupted connectivity contribute to unshackling the entrepreneurial potential of India’s growing population?
We have a great demographic dividend which is an asset. It’s important to ensure labor mobility which the Gati Shakti platforms also focus on.
At the same time, we need to ensure connectivity to the educational institutions so that the children studying in remote areas are able to go to school and have power and internet connectivity. And then from there, they go to high schools and colleges. In this way, connectivity and infra-access promotes the development of the demographic dividend.
How can we bridge the infrastructure divide to ensure that India’s diverse opportunities are not constrained?
I would like to give a couple of examples. The Department of Telecom mapped all the towers and optical fiber cables, and then via the Gati Shakti platform they were able to see that there are about 30,000 habitations where 4G saturation is yet to be done.
After identifying the gaps, they are in the process of installing towers and laying down cables to ensure connectivity. The Ministry of Railways identified 95 towns in the country with a population of more than 50,000, again on the Gati Shakti platform, that lacked direct railway connectivity.
This is how the Gati Shakti enables Ministries and state governments to identify the infrastructure gaps, whether in telecom, power, roadways, or railways.
Also, we are now able to identify ports with traffic issues due to narrow roads. New projects have been sanctioned to ensure ease of movement of traffic there.
Existing gaps are being plugged in a number of ways, whether it is new roads or a railway siding which is required at the port for ease of movement of the freight.
