Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 6: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, while leading a discussion with all Administrative Secretaries and Deputy Commissioners on the implementation of the PM Gati Shakti (PMGS) Master Plan, emphasized the need for departments to proactively contribute by incorporating numerous layers through the mapping of all their projects, especially within the social sector.
He urged administrative heads to familiarize themselves with the local portal associated with this national initiative to include specific layers relevant to their departments. In addition, he encouraged them to innovate in the addition of these layers, drawing inspiration from practices in other States/UTs as well.
Dulloo reminded them to review the portal created by the Jal Shakti Department to understand the process of mapping their assets. He motivated them to incorporate every new project alongside existing ones.
The Chief Secretary highlighted the significant potential to add hundreds of new layers, particularly in social sectors, in addition to the infrastructural assets under their management. He stressed the importance of using polygon data instead of simple points when generating geo-referenced maps.
According to him, such mapping on the PMGS portal would enhance the planning process, making it more effective and results-driven. These maps, alongside physical infrastructure, would provide better insight into the social indicators present in specific areas.
Furthermore, he instructed the Department of Industries & Commerce, the designated nodal department for this initiative, to establish a threshold limit of Rs 20 crore for planning projects within the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan Portal.
Commissioner Secretary of I&C, Vikramjit Singh, provided an overview of the Union Territory’s performance in implementing PMGS in J&K, noting that all 38 departments had joined the initiative, contributing over 600 data layers to date.
He also informed the meeting that J&K ranks among the top three States/UTs nationally and has been classified as a ‘Fast Mover’ in the recently released LEADS (Logistics Ease Across Different States) 2024 report by DPIIT, having consistently held the ‘Aspirer’ status for the past three editions.
In a notable development, Kupwara was selected from J&K to participate in the pilot phase of the PMGS District Master Plan for adoption at the district level, a model expected to be replicated in other districts in the future.
Regarding departmental performance, the Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD) and the Jal Shakti Departments emerged as key achievers in the UT, having successfully mapped all their assets. Additionally, all departments have nearly mapped their offices and major assets on the UT Master Plan portal.
It was also revealed that discussions in TSU/NPG meetings have covered 50 projects across 10 departments so far. Earlier in 2024, an orientation session and a portal demonstration were conducted to assist nodal officers in project planning.
Looking ahead, it was indicated that intra-departmental NOCs and clearances would be integrated through the PM Gati Shakti portal.
Moreover, efforts would be made to establish district-level portals focusing on utilizing existing data to identify infrastructure gaps within the districts.
Furthermore, geo-referencing for all 6500 revenue maps is anticipated to be completed in the coming year. The PMGS initiative, under the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP), aims to streamline coordination between various Government departments for the seamless execution of projects in J&K.
