Logistics, infra projects over Rs 500 cr to pass through NPG

Logistics and connectivity infrastructure projects over Rs 500 crore would now route through the network planning group (NPG) under the PM Gati Shakti. According to an official, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has also created a national master plan digital platform. The PM Gati Shakti programme was launched to address the issues of multi-modal and last-mile connectivities. It will help reduce the logistics cost and promote effective and efficient planning of infrastructure projects. An integrated infrastructure NPG has been constituted, including representations from various connectivity infrastructure ministries and departments involving their experts in the network planning division for unified planning and integration of the proposals. An official said that a national master plan digital platform has been created. With the approval from the Ministry of Finance, all logistics and connectivity projects will be approved on the principles of PM Gati Shakti. All the projects over Rs 500 crore will be considered by NPG. The DPIIT has carried out training sessions with various government departments and held regional conferences in India. NPG involves experts of the network planning wing of respective infrastructure ministries and will assist the empowered group of secretaries (EGOS). EGOS includes secretaries of 18 ministries as members and the Head of Logistics Division, under DPIIT, as member convenor. An official said that all the departments would first approach NPG for approval before making detailed project reports (DPRs) at the planning stage. He added that after NPG's clearance, the projects would follow the normal procedure of approval by the Ministry of Finance and the Cabinet. Image Source Also read: PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to enable logistics efficiency