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Technology is not only reshaping the planning process but also enhancing the implementation and monitoring of projects. Designing alignments for roads, railways, and other passenger and freight transport systems often presents numerous challenges.
However, integration of geo informatics and the development of digital twins have greatly improved the efficiency and precision of infrastructure planning, overcoming many of these hurdles.
A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical object. By incorporating geospatial data, it creates a scalable virtual reality model that can adapt to changes over time, offering a significant improvement over traditional 3D models.
This technology can replicate various real-world structures and installations, including buildings, roads, and even entire cities. Digital twin technology enables comprehensive project management, allowing for the identification of potential issues and more informed decision-making.
India has made significant progress over the past three years in incorporating geoinformatics into project planning through the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, embracing technological advancements. This groundbreaking initiative employs a whole-of-government approach through a GIS-enabled platform that integrates utility infrastructure, social and economic assets, multimodal connectivity networks, forests, and more.
It has streamlined the previously cumbersome process of offline mapping and permit acquisition. The platform is actively utilized by both central ministries and states or Union Territories for planning infrastructure projects, economic centers, connectivity hubs, and social sector development. The influence of this technology-driven approach is evident across the nation, fundamentally transforming government-led infrastructure development by promoting a more coordinated, efficient, and integrated process.
This planning model enhances logistical efficiency, fosters multimodal integration—connecting road, rail, air, and waterways—and significantly shortens project planning timelines.
The consecutive high-budget investments in the infrastructure sector, particularly in road and rail projects, demanded a faster process for planning approvals, implementation, and monitoring, where swift and well-informed decision-making is crucial. This is where technology has played a vital role in the success of the GatiShakti framework.
The National Master Plan, serving as a comprehensive repository of data layers on social, economic, and infrastructure assets across the country, allows planners to rapidly assess data and identify optimal design alignments free of obstacles.
The integration of advanced technologies, such as Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) and data analytics, has transformed infrastructure planning, utilizing over 1,600 data layers covering essential aspects like land, forests, highways, and urban centers. This approach has been effective in streamlining efforts and preventing duplication in the planning process.
By creating real-time, dynamic virtual representations of projects, this technology accelerates the decision-making process. Virtual models enable planners to assess, simulate, and visualize project designs and alignments, allowing for instant coordination with various departments to ensure timely project completion.
These virtual designs can generate multiple scenario models, allowing project teams to conduct predictive analyses of potential risks, helping to preemptively address challenges before they impact progress. As a result, the integration of digital twin technology within the PM GatiShakti framework is set to further transform the landscape of project management.
A key component of digital twins is their reliance on the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT connects devices and technology, enabling seamless communication between physical objects and cloud-based systems.
Digital twins utilize data from IoT sensors to continuously update information from real-world objects into their virtual counterparts. This synergy between digital twins and IoT facilitates state-of- the-art project management and enhances decision-making capabilities, ushering in a new era of technology-driven project governance. As technology continues to evolve, its potential applications in infrastructure are expanding, especially with the rise of generative AI on the horizon.
The integration of these advanced tools promises even greater innovation and efficiency in project management. With digital twins providing real-time insights and AI offering predictive capabilities, the possibilities for optimizing infrastructure development appear boundless. In this context, the technological advancements driving the PM GatiShakti framework represent just the beginning of India’s journey toward a ‘Viksit Bharat’—a developed India.
The framework exemplifies how cutting-edge technology can streamline processes, minimize delays, and foster a more integrated approach to national development. It marks a critical shift from traditional methods to data- driven planning, ensuring that projects are not only well-coordinated but also resilient and adaptable to changes.
The deployment of digital twins and IoT in the GatiShakti initiative is more than just a technological upgrade; it symbolizes a fundamental change in how India envisions and manages its infrastructure. As the country continues to embrace these innovations, it sets a precedent for a future where technology-enabled governance drives economic growth, enhances connectivity, and supports India’s broader developmental aspirations.
(Ravi Kiran is Deputy Secretary, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India & Rajesh Menon is Domain Expert – Technical Support Unit, PM GatiShakti; Views expressed are personal)
