The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP) was launched in October 2021 to transform planning and execution of transport infrastructure across India. The NMP has integrated rail, shipping, road, telecommunications and pipelines through coordination among ministries and state governments to speed clearances and project planning. Indian Railways (IR) has adopted the plan in project appraisal, sanction and execution and has expedited surveys and route alignment while avoiding forest and wildlife areas. During the last three years IR has sanctioned 300 projects totalling 13,808 km, comprising 51 New Line, 17 Gauge Conversion and 232 Doubling projects.

Surveys for New Line, Gauge Conversion and Doubling projects are taken under the PM Gati Shakti institutional mechanism developed by BISAG-N to improve multimodal connectivity planning for economic zones. This approach has enhanced the quality of Detailed Project Reports, reduced project costs and prioritised first and last mile links to ports, mines and collieries for smoother movement of agricultural products, coal and other commodities. The mechanism supports integrated logistics planning and removal of bottlenecks to improve line capacity and freight efficiency.

Several major projects have been sanctioned with substantial financial outlays, reflecting the scale of investment in rail capacity. For example, the Manmad–Indore new line was sanctioned at Rs 185.29 bn and Kasara–Manmad works at Rs 101.54 bn. Strategic links and bridge works have also received sanction to strengthen regional networks and support industrial and tourism growth.

In addition to sanctioned projects, 982 surveys totalling 67,010 km have been approved under the NMP and some projects have been completed, including the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla new line of 272 km and the Bhairabi–Sairang new line of 51 km. Sanction and completion depend on factors such as traffic projections, land acquisition, forest and statutory clearances, geology, local law and order and availability of funds, and the government has increased allocations, delegated powers and maintained close monitoring and follow up with states to expedite implementation. The information was provided by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a reply to the Rajya Sabha.