A New India

Chapter 130: Gati Shakti - III

Harish Patel, the Finance Minister, didn't waste time asking questions. "Sir, this is a massive investment. We're talking about expanding highways, building new rail lines, upgrading ports and airports. The question is, how do we fund it all? We've already stretched the budget with other projects like the Food Corporation of India and CISF.

Even though you have already said it, but can it be eloborated more.

Rohan nodded. He knew this would come up. "Harish, you're right. The funding is one of the biggest hurdles. But we're taking a phased approach to finance the Gati Shakti Plan. We won't be doing everything at once.

We'll focus on critical areas first, where the impact will be felt the most, and spread the cost over several years."

He paused, then continued, "We've set aside some government funds for infrastructure, but we know that won't be enough. That's why we're going to rely on public-private partnerships (PPP). We'll invite private companies to invest in building and maintaining highways, rail lines, and logistics hubs. In return, they'll be able to collect tolls or fees from users."

Harish looked at his notes, thinking it through. "What about foreign investment? Do you think we can get international partners to come on board?"

Rohan smiled. "We've will have discussions with potential foreign investors. Countries like Japan and the U.S. will be interested. They see India as a growing market, and they know improving our infrastructure is key to unlocking that potential. They will be eager to invest because it benefits them in the long run too."

Mira Chaudhary, raised another concern "We've all seen big infrastructure projects stall because of land acquisition issues, environmental clearances, and delays. How do we avoid that this time?"

Rohan walked over to the large map on the wall. "That's exactly why we need a different approach. We know land acquisition and environmental clearances are some of the biggest bottlenecks. So, we're setting up dedicated teams in each state to manage land acquisition and work with local governments. These teams will make sure the process moves quickly but fairly.

We'll also involve the Ministry of Environment early on, so we can address any issues before they become major roadblocks." Explore new chapters at m_vl_em_p_yr

Inder Kumar, was focused on how this would impact farmers. "What about the farmers who might lose their land? We need to make sure they're treated fairly. They've already been through enough."

Rohan nodded, understanding how sensitive this issue was. "That's a priority for us, Inder. Farmers will be compensated fairly and promptly. In some cases, we'll even offer them stakes in the projects, like a share of toll or logistics revenue. This way, they won't just lose their land, they'll have a long-term source of income."

Inder seemed satisfied with the response but had one more concern. "And the environmental impact? We're talking about large-scale construction, roads, railways, ports. How do we minimize the damage?"

Rohan pointed to a section in the proposal. "We're serious about this. We'll be creating

green corridor, along the highways, and we're planning afforestation projects to replace trees we have to remove. Where possible, we'll also use renewable energy to power the infrastructure, solar panels for railway stations, wind energy for ports. We're building for the future, and that means keeping sustainability in mind."

Leela Kapoor had been listening closely and now spoke up. "These projects are going to affect a lot of people who live in the areas we're building in. We've seen before how disruptive that can be. How are we going to handle the communities that get impacted?"

Rohan addressed her concerns head-on. "We'll be working closely with the local communities before any construction starts. Wherever possible, we'll hire local workers, creating local employment and giving people a stake in the projects. For anyone displaced by the construction, we'll ensure they're relocated and compensated fairly.

We're not just focused on building infrastructure for cities, we want the rural areas to benefit too."

Menon who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "How do we keep this from getting bogged down in bureaucracy? We've got multiple ministries involved and state governments to deal with. Coordination is going to be a nightmare."

Rohan was prepared for this. "If a railway is being built, the Ministry of Railways will see the progress, and the Ministry of Roads will be able to make sure highways are lining up with it."

He continued, "Thd platform of real life tracking will also track land acquisition, environmental clearances, and funding. If something is delayed, the people will flag it so we can address it immediately. Each ministry will have teams working together, making sure everyone's in sync. This way, no project gets stalled because of miscommunication or red tape."

Mira leaned forward, impressed. "That's exactly the kind of coordination we've been missing in the past. If we can get everyone on the same page, this could actually work."

Rohan smiled. "That's the goal. We're not just building roads and railways, we're building a system that's transparent and efficient. We're going to make sure this project stays on track, on time, and on budget."

Harish glanced at the clock, sensing the meeting was wrapping up. "So, what's our next step, Sir? How do we get this rolling?"

Rohan stood up straight, feeling the room's energy shift. "I'll need each of you to coordinate with your ministries to get the groundwork ready. We'll also start securing private investment and foreign partnerships to fund the initial phases."

He looked around the room, sensing the growing confidence in the plan.

"This isn't going to be easy. We'll face challenges, budget concerns, land disputes, delays. But if we stay focused and work together, we can make the Gati Shakti Plan happen. And when we do, we'll be building something that will impact future generations in ways we can't even imagine yet."

They knew it wouldn't be easy, but they also knew it was necessary.

The plan was in motion, and they were ready to take the next steps to turn it into reality.