India is set to establish a new, apex federal agency to oversee and streamline its transport sector, marking a significant shift towards integrated infrastructure planning. The decision, made in a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attended by cabinet ministers, aims to break down existing silos in transport infrastructure planning.
The new agency, named Gati-Shakti Transport Planning and Research Organisation (GTPRO), will be housed within the cabinet secretariat and led by a secretary-level officer to ensure effective coordination. This move comes as the government has invested over Rs 50 lakh crore in the transport sector in the past 11 years, highlighting the need for a more cohesive and strategic approach.
GTPRO will be responsible for gathering detailed data and research inputs to initiate master planning and monitor progress across all modes of transportation. The government has recognized that current planning processes are often consultant-driven, lacking collaboration between ministries and states. Furthermore, there is no central agency responsible for policy advocacy or recommending changes to existing regulations to improve planning and project implementation. The absence of a mechanism for mid-course correction in case of project failures has also been a concern.
The establishment of GTPRO mirrors similar institutions in developed nations and is inspired by international best practices. Models from countries like South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and China were reviewed during the planning phase. Specifically, the Korea Transport Institute (KOTI), a think tank under the South Korean prime minister's office, served as a key example. KOTI provides recommendations and alternatives for the nation's transport policies.
GTPRO will formulate integrated transportation plans and drive overall strategy across surface transport, railways, shipping, and civil aviation at the national level. It will be responsible for the development and finalization of 5-year and 25-year plans, along with regular monitoring. The agency will conduct comprehensive assessments for capacity augmentation for both passenger and freight movement, helping to channel government investment effectively. GTPRO will also coordinate with states on key infrastructure projects. By consolidating planning efforts, the agency aims to reduce logistics costs and promote a more complementary approach between different modes of transport.
The agency is expected to work in tandem with the Gati-Shakti framework, a digital platform designed to identify infrastructure gaps and synchronize Union government projects. While Gati-Shakti addresses immediate execution timelines and project-level integration, GTPRO will have a broader, more strategic focus. It will identify optimal transport modes, evaluate long-term economic and environmental impacts, and ensure cohesive investment prioritization across sectors.
One of the primary objectives of GTPRO is to enhance coordination between the central and state governments concerning key infrastructure projects, fostering better collaboration and aligning transportation initiatives with broader developmental goals. The agency is also expected to play a crucial role in achieving national goals, including targets for net-zero emissions.
GTPRO is expected to prepare an overall plan for integrated transportation solutions and get it approved by March 2026. The plan envisages achieving the target of moving over 42% of freight by rail or waterways by 2030, as these are cheaper and cause less pollution. The government also aims to increase the average speed of freight trains to 40 kmph by 2030, compared to the current speed of 24 kmph, and to increase the average speed of trucks from the current 25-40 kmph to over 40 kmph in the next six years.
