LOK SABHA
PM GATI SHAKTI
3283. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH
Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री
(a) the objectives and merits of PM Gati Shakti – National Master Plan (NMP) for multi-modal connectivity in the country;
(b) whether the Government has taken in the significance of inland water ways as an important component of Gati Shakti plan in achieving optimal multi modal transport connectivity;
(c) if so, whether the Government has considered according importance to allocations and plans for the development of backwaters in Kerala especially the backwater regions in the district of Alappuzha passing through Vembanad lake and its tributaries with connectivity to Cochin and other areas; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
(SHRI SOM PARKASH)
(a): The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan(NMP) depicts the economic zones and the infrastructure linkages required to support them with an objective to holistically integrate all the multimodal connectivity infrastructure projects and remove gaps for seamless movement of people & goods. It provides analytical tools to facilitate integrated planning and synchronized implementation of the projects through informed decision utilizing the relevant database available on the NMP . The access to the NMP is available to individual organisations at Centre and State levels.
(b): Yes sir. Inland Waterways has been considered to be a crucial component of the Gati Shakti plan to derive optimum multi modal connectivity.
(c) & (d): Inland Waterways Authority of India under Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways is mandated to develop and maintain National Waterways(NW) in the country for Shipping and navigation. The work related to development of channel of NW-3 including the portion which passes through Vembanad Lake (in Alappuzha District of Kerala) for operation of vessels has been undertaken. An expenditure of Rs 14.97, 26.06 and 21.52 crore respectively, has already been incurred during the years 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 on maintenance of NW-3.