In a recent address at IIM Nagpur, General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff, underlined the pivotal role of infrastructure development in propelling growth across economic, social, and security domains.
He underscored the significance of roads, bridges, and communication networks in fostering trade, ensuring connectivity, and facilitating the efficient movement of goods and people.
“Infrastructure development, in any form, contributes to growth and influences economic, social, and security domains. Roads, bridges, and communication networks are essential for fostering trade, ensuring connectivity, and enabling the efficient movement of goods and people. The surface transport and road infrastructure, crucial for meeting the operational and sustenance requirements of the Indian Army in forward areas along the borders, have in a way, ensured outreach and connectivity to citizens residing in far-flung areas of the country,” General Pande stated.
Alignment with national logistics requirements
He reaffirmed the Indian Army’s commitment to aligning its infrastructure needs with national logistics requirements through the introduction of PM GatiShakti and the National Logistics Policy. General Pande mentioned the establishment of a Defence Portal for GatiShakti, revealing that 300 infrastructure projects, including four strategic tunnels and strategic railway lines, have been identified to serve dual purposes.
Interconnection between security and infrastructure development
Highlighting the interconnection between security and concomitant infrastructure needs, General Pande underlined the Indian Army’s role as a contributor to holistic national development. He underscored the symbiotic relationship between security measures and infrastructure development.
Furthermore, General Pande stressed the importance of empowering local communities, citing various initiatives such as skill enhancement programs, healthcare and emergency medical support, and community-specific projects. He highlighted collaboration with state and central government schemes, including the development of 662 Vibrant Villages and the identification of 48 border areas for promoting Border Area Tourism in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism.
National Logistics Policy (NLP) and its vision
According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, “To complement PM GatiShakti’s National Master Plan (NMP), the National Logistics Policy (NLP) was launched on 17 September 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.” The NLP addresses soft infrastructure and logistics sector development, encompassing process reforms, improved logistics services, digitization, human resource development, and skilling, the Ministry added.
The official release from the Ministry further highlighted the vision of the NLP, aiming to bolster economic growth and business competitiveness through an integrated, efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective logistics network. Leveraging cutting-edge technology and skilled manpower, the policy aims to curtail logistics costs, enhance performance, and create a data-driven decision support mechanism for an efficient logistics ecosystem.
