Unified Transport Planning Mechanism
The Indian government is considering establishing a new mechanism to unify transport planning across sectors, spearheaded by a single ministry. This initiative aims to address multisectoral bottlenecks in transportation.
Inter-Ministerial Coordination
- A high-level meeting in March emphasized the need for an integrated approach to transport planning, both short-term and long-term.
- The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has been instrumental in pushing forward this notion.
Prime Minister Gati-Shakti Framework
- The existing Gati-Shakti framework facilitates inter-ministerial consultative mechanisms for infrastructure planning and execution.
- The new framework will complement Gati-Shakti, focusing more on transport modes and long-term goals.
- Gati-Shakti aims to eliminate overlaps and expedite execution across infrastructure sectors.
Integrated Transport Planning
- An integrated framework will perform detailed assessments of modal needs and historical trends.
- The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is devising a comprehensive plan for integrated transport planning.
Stakeholder Involvement
- NITI Aayog and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) have shown interest in leading this initiative.
- The transport ministry, either railways or highways, is likely to lead the framework, avoiding the creation of a statutory body to reduce bureaucracy.
