The government is planning to extend the PM GatiShakti national master plan (NMP) portal to infrastructure projects in neighbouring countries, while it is set to welcome the private sector, offering a treasure trove of geospatial data to fuel infrastructure development.

The government aims to provide access to the NMP portal to the private sector this year, with discussions underway to determine the details, a government official said on Saturday.

The Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Amardeep Singh Bhatia, said that while some layers of data on the NMP are sensitive and should not be exposed, the government is working to identify and address these concerns through consultations with the private sector.

“We are targeting to roll out this year,” Bhatia told reporters through video-conferencing.

The NMP offers over 1,600 layers of geospatial data, enabling faster planning and better design for infrastructure projects. The NMP has already saved ₹20 crore monthly in India’s logistics.

He said the government has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Nepal and Sri Lanka to utilise the PM GatiShakti NMP for infrastructure planning in these countries. However, he clarified that the NMP would not be used for revenue generation with friendly neighbouring countries.

Analysts said the government’s move to open the NMP portal marks a significant step towards enhancing transparency and collaboration between public and private sectors. The NMP empowers investors to identify potential project sites, assess risks, and optimise their investments by providing access to detailed data on land, ports, forests, and highways.

The NMP’s potential to attract foreign investment is substantial. With India’s growing economy and infrastructure needs, the portal offers a unique opportunity for international companies to participate in large-scale projects and contribute to the country’s development.

PM Gati Shakti will also be used for planning at the district level, and the Union government is working with states to obtain relevant land record data. With the district-level pilot project underway, the government aims to launch the master plan before the end of 2024.

As PM Gati Shakti approaches its third anniversary on October 13, it may soon be open for use by private players for better planning and cost optimisation. However, the government is working to identify and separate layers of sensitive data to allow sharing of the remaining data with private entities.

Launched in October 2021, the PM GatiShakti initiative aims to develop an integrated infrastructure to reduce logistics costs. All logistics and connectivity infrastructure projects, entailing investments of over ₹500 crore, are routed through the NMP.

The portal currently offers over 1,600 layers of data, including those related to land, ports, forests, and highways, but access is currently limited to central and state governments.

The agenda of opening the PM GatiShakti NMP for public access was discussed in the Geospatial Data Promotion and Development Committee (GDPDC) under the Department of Science and Technology in July.

A committee has since been formed to evaluate the NGDR (National Geospatial Data Registry)/ UGI (Unified Geospatial Interface) platform developed by BISAG-N for data sharing.

The DPIIT, along with BISAG-N, is expected to prepare a framework for providing registered access to users on the NGDR platform and also to provide certain data layers in view-only format.