The Narendra Modi-led NDA 3.0 government is planning to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) in an advanced version of the PM GatiShakti platform to accelerate infrastructure development across India. We are looking at having a next version of the futuristic PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, which we call PMGS 2.0 or an AI-enabled predictive platform. This platform will allow us to imagine various scenarios and assess economic development trends, identifying which areas or sectors will grow and at what pace, said Sandeep Kumar Ahirwar, Joint Secretary ? Logistics, Department of Commerce, in an interview with the source. The preparatory work is underway to develop a platform that can boost economic development through intelligent risk assessment. By considering various scenarios optimistic, business-as-usual, or pessimisticthe AI-backed system will analyse and predict economic and sectoral growth, including probable growth rates and infrastructure requirements. In October 2021, the Centre launched the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMGS-NMP) to improve multimodal connectivity infrastructure for various economic activities in line with the vision of Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) and a $5 trillion economy by 2025. This national initiative involves integrated planning and synchronised project implementation across departments and state governments, incorporating a dynamic geospatial data platform to address critical infrastructure gaps and improve logistics efficiency. Over the past two years, more than 170 projects valued at approximately Rs 13.5 trillion have been evaluated. Many of these projects are now either nearing completion or in the implementation stage. The PM Gati Shakti Master Plan platform is significantly enhancing the efficiency and connectivity of these infrastructure projects, Ahirwar added. As many as 48 Union ministries, and all states and Union Territories, have already boarded the PM GatiShakti platform. In FY 22-23, the government disbursed around Rs 50 billion to states. With the Ministry of Finance's special capital assistance scheme, more than Rs 1 trillion will be given to various states in FY 2024-25, Ahirwar noted. In 2022, the Centre unveiled a scheme for special assistance, offering financial aid to states in the form of a 50-year interest-free loan for capital investments. According to Ahirwar, the logistics sector is at the forefront of adopting advanced technologies. Nearly 37 digital systems from various ministries have been integrated into the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP), which is becoming akin to UPI in terms of the data it holds for the logistics sector. Industries are increasingly embracing AI to enhance efficiencies, and AI and machine learning (AI-ML) technologies can transform the logistics industry by lowering costs. However, the logistics cost remains relatively high in India, and this needs to be addressed. India has a huge potential that needs to be realised in terms of infrastructure and economic and social development, which should also address employment concerns to a greater extent, Ahirwar said. The department also has a data-driven index, Logistics Ease Across Different States (Leads), focusing on providing a common platform for Central and State Governments to work together in the logistics sector to achieve ease of logistics. Logistics is an outcome of infrastructure, technology, and people in the processes. Therefore, a concerted effort and an integrated approach are necessary to realise the full potential of the logistics sector, he concluded. (Source: ET)