State PCS - Madhya Pradesh (MP PCS)

• 04 Jun 2025

Railway Infrastructure Projects under PM Gati Shakti Plan

Why in News? 

The  Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved two major railway infrastructure projects in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, with a combined estimated cost of ₹3,399 crore, under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.

Key Points

• About the Railway Projects: 
  • The projects will span approximately 176 kilometers, covering four districts across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. 
  • They are scheduled for completion by the fiscal year 2029–30. 
  • These projects aim to boost connectivity, streamline the movement of passengers and freight, and foster regional development. 
  • The projects align with the vision of a “New India” by promoting regional development and boosting employment to make local communities self-reliant (Atmanirbhar). 
• Impact on Villages and Local Economy: 
  • The expanded railway capacity is expected to benefit 784 villages, directly impacting a population of nearly 19.74 lakh people. 
  • The corridors are crucial for transporting key commodities like coal, cement, clinker, gypsum, fly ash, containers, agricultural produce, and petroleum products. 
  • The initiative will create both skilled and unskilled job opportunities, contributing to rural livelihoods. 
• Freight Capacity and Economic Benefits: 
  • The projects are projected to handle an additional freight load of 18.40 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). 
  • Enhanced freight movement will help optimize supply chains, reduce logistics costs, and accelerate economic growth in the region. 
• Environmental Impact: 
  • The new railway lines are expected to reduce oil imports by 20 crore litres. 
  • They will also cut CO₂ emissions by 99 crore kilograms, which is equivalent to planting 4 crore trees. 
  • This aligns with India’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure and a low-carbon economy. 

PM GatiShakti National Master Plan  

• About:  
  • The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, launched in October 2021 is a transformative Rs. 100 lakh crore initiative aimed at revolutionising India’s infrastructure over the next five years.   
  • It has been developed as a Digital Master Planning tool by BISAG-N (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics).  
    • It has been prepared in a dynamic Geographic Information System (GIS) platform wherein data on specific action plans of all the Ministries/Departments have been incorporated within a comprehensive database.  
  • The plan seeks to accelerate project completion, reduce timelines, and enhance India’s global competitiveness by breaking down inter-ministerial obstacles.  
  • The vision of PM GatiShakti is to create a world-class infrastructure that improves the ease of living, boosts economic growth and makes Indian businesses more competitive. 
• Key Features:  
  • Digital Integration: It is a digital platform designed to integrate the efforts of 16 ministries, ensuring seamless infrastructure planning and execution across sectors.   
  • Multi-Sector Collaboration: The platform incorporates infrastructure initiatives from several major programs, including Bharatmala, Sagarmala, inland waterways, dry ports, and UDAN.  
  • Economic Zones: Focuses on developing key economic areas such as textile clusters, pharmaceutical hubs, defence corridors, and agricultural zones to boost economic productivity.  
  • Use of Technology: Advanced spatial planning tools and ISRO satellite imagery, developed by BiSAG-N, provide data-driven insights for project planning and management.

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)  

• It is chaired by the Prime Minister and sets priorities for public sector investments.  
• It continuously reviews economic trends to develop an integrated economic policy framework and oversees policies and activities in the economic field, including foreign investment, requiring high-level decisions.