Budget 2022: FM Sitharaman announces Gati Shakti Master Plan for E-ways

New Delhi: Continuing focus on infrastructure development, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting Budget 2022-23 announced to formulate PM Gati Shakti Master Plan for Expressways.

The Minister said that the Master Plan would be formulated in 2022-23 to facilitate faster movement of people and goods. As per the plan, National Highway (NH) network would be expanded by 25,000 km in 2022-23 and Rs 20,000 crore would be mobilised to complement public resources.

Sitharaman said that projects in National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) which pertain to seven engines will be aligned with PM Gati Shakti Framework.

Touchstone of master plan will be world class modern infra, logistics synergy among different modes of movement and location of projects, she said.

She noted that PM Gati Shakti is driven by seven engines of roads, railways, airports, ports, mass transport, waterways and logistics infra. "All 7 engines will pull forward the economy in unison," the Finance Minister said.

The Finance Minister said that contracts for implementation of Multimodal Logistics Parks at 4 locations would be awarded in 2022-23, in PPP mode.

Indian Railways would develop new products and efficient logistics services for small farmers, small & medium enterprises. (UNI)