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.