Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Monday highlighted the growing impact of the government’s flagship PM Gati Shakti mission, aimed at transforming India’s infrastructure and improving logistics efficiency, during the 4th anniversary celebrations held at Bharat Mandapam.
Addressing the gathering, Goyal noted that logistics costs, a long-standing challenge for India’s competitiveness, are now declining, particularly with improvements in last-mile connectivity. “There was recently a report which demonstrated that logistics costs have started coming down quite drastically, particularly with last-mile connectivity improving,” he said.
The Minister explained that industries previously faced multiple transfers of materials—from truck to rail—causing inefficiencies and losses. The creation of direct railway sidings at mining and power plant sites has significantly reduced such wastage. “Simple last-mile connectivity at the mining site and at the power plant site can make a dramatic difference to the cost of electricity because logistics cost comes down,” he added.
Goyal also emphasized the programme’s growing reach across ministries, states, and departments, evolving into a critical tool for coordination and effective planning. “Everybody can benefit,” he said, pointing to a new compendium that showcases PM Gati Shakti’s influence across sectors and aspects of daily life.
In a major announcement, the Minister unveiled new digital tools to strengthen the programme, including a unified geospatial interface that will provide public access to PM Gati Shakti databases. He also introduced a multi-sector reporting system to track the mission’s development impact through an area-based approach, urging all agencies to keep their data updated for accurate planning and execution.
Highlighting the focus on aspirational districts, Goyal said the initiative’s area-based planning is designed not only to meet local needs but also to help bridge infrastructure gaps in these regions.
In recognition of stakeholder contributions, he launched LEAPS (Logistics Excellence Advancement and Performance Shield) to honour outstanding performers in the logistics sector.
Reflecting on the journey so far, Goyal said, “The time is now ripe for PM Gati Shakti to go to the next level,” positioning it as a central tool for national and human development, and a key driver towards achieving the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.
