Government and GatiShakti Vishwavidyalaya Join Forces to Propel PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan

In a significant stride towards bolstering India’s infrastructure and logistics sectors, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GatiShakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV). This collaborative initiative marks a pivotal milestone in advancing the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and the National Logistics Policy. Under the MoU, GSV will serve as the central agency responsible for designing, developing, and delivering courses and curricula related to these critical initiatives at centers located across various states in India.

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and Textiles, Piyush Goyal, highlighted the global significance of PM GatiShakti, emphasizing that it will become a strategic planning tool of global relevance. He lauded the role of GSV in offering skill development and capacity-building programs for logistics professionals, ultimately contributing to the formalization of the logistics sector. This collaboration brings together over 16 Central Ministries, including NITI Aayog and CBC, representing the culmination of three key visions: smarter planning and implementation, specialized development, and capacity building.

Goyal stressed that this partnership would infuse academic rigor into the PM GatiShakti approach, resulting in reduced logistics costs, enhanced efficiency, and the creation of a competitive business ecosystem. He also highlighted the potential for this collaboration to initiate a virtuous cycle of growth, aligning with the vision of Amrit Kaal. The MoU signifies a new chapter in India’s logistics and infrastructure narrative and is poised to accelerate comprehensive sector development, furthering India’s journey to becoming a global leader.

Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology, and Chancellor of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, emphasized the significance of the university’s industry-focused and innovation-driven programs, particularly those related to railways, metro, and high-speed railways. He highlighted the development of specialized courses tailored to specific industries and sectors, enhancing students’ readiness for future workforce demands. GSV aims to train 15,000 students, providing them with assured job opportunities in the aviation industry, thereby ensuring that Indian skill development aligns with global standards.

The MoU was officially signed by the Vice-Chancellor of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, Prof. Manoj Choudhary, and E. Srinivas, Joint Secretary of the Logistics Division, DPIIT, in the presence of Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Sumita Dawra, Special Secretary at DPIIT, emphasized the importance of India’s efforts to enhance its logistics performance ranking to global standards by 2030. The transformative reforms introduced by the Government of India, including multimodal infrastructure development, have been instrumental in facilitating business and improving quality of life. The PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, launched by the Prime Minister in October 2021, is designed to build next-generation infrastructure and establish a globally competitive logistics ecosystem.

GatiShakti Vishwavidyalaya, conceived by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, leverages existing infrastructure and resources to create professional logistics courses. It stands as India’s first Railway University and the third of its kind globally, following Russia and China, and was dedicated to the nation in December 2018.

The PM Gati Shakti Master Plan integrates economic and infrastructural planning with socio-economic development. In recent years, significant progress has been made in developing the digital platform (NMP), individual portals, data quality management, and onboarding of Ministries and States, enabling comprehensive socio-economic development.

In addition to the PM GatiShakti NMP, the National Logistics Policy (NLP) was launched in September 2022 to address the soft infrastructure and logistics sector’s development, including process reforms, improved logistics services, digitization, human resource development, and skilling. The NLP aims to drive economic growth and business competitiveness through an integrated, efficient, reliable, green, sustainable, and cost-effective logistics network.

GSV will collaborate with the Logistics Division to establish “knowledge centers” of PM GatiShakti in various states and institutions, serving as repositories for best practices, research, and innovation in logistics. Through this partnership, GSV will help share the benefits and learnings of using PM GatiShakti NMP with various stakeholders.

Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara, established as a Central University in 2022, focuses on creating skilled manpower for transportation and logistics sectors. Sponsored by the Ministry of Railways, GSV offers a range of programs and training to prepare students for the workforce and industry needs. It emphasizes collaboration with leading institutions and industries worldwide.

The outcomes of using PM GatiShakti NMP in the last two years demonstrate its value in planning infrastructure and driving comprehensive socio-economic development across India. The collaboration with GSV will further promote PM GatiShakti and logistics infrastructure-related planning, potentially attracting international interest and establishing GSV as a knowledge center for GatiShakti and logistics infrastructure planning.