Narendra Modi says "we must focus on seamless and fast connectivity" in India's Independence Day speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking from the Red Fort in New Delhi on August 15 for India’s 80th Independence Day, called for smooth and rapid nationwide transport links under the PM Gati Shakti program. The initiative, launched in October 2021, is designed to coordinate infrastructure planning across government departments and lower logistics costs. According to government data, 396 infrastructure projects—chiefly roads and railways—worth an estimated Rs 18.66 lakh crore have been reviewed by the program’s Network Planning Group; 256 have been approved, and 198 are under implementation. Projects costing more than Rs 500 crore are required to go through this process. Experts say Gati Shakti should address the entire supply chain, from factory gate to consumer, to boost competitiveness.