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Empowering Gati Shakti commerce, distributed healthcare, government

Done the right way, the smart platform for infrastructure services, in small and medium manufacturing and
services enterprises for work process support sys-
planning and execution could lead to tremendous tems, and entertainment.
productivity benefits Temples to metaphysics and physics
In the 1890s, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose (Sir
Jagadis Chandra Bose) demonstrated wireless tech-
nology at 60 GHz (V-band),4 but his pioneering work
languished in India. Meanwhile, countries such as
the USA, the UK and others, including China, have
exploited this technology for high-speed gigabit
wireless in their networks in place of fibre.
Much time and public resources are devoted to
overt religiosity in India. Whereas Bose, scientist
extraordinaire, in his inaugural address dedicated
the Bose Institute in Kolkata in 1917 as not merely a
laboratory but a temple. Adding Paramahansa

T
he National Master Plan for logistics develop- the Asian Development Bank Institute confirms that Yogananda’s “keen interest in evidence that India
ment on a digital platform, Gati Shakti (speed for India and China, internet and mobile density can play a leading part in physics, and not meta-
and strength), was introduced in October 2021. contribute to their high rate of growth.3 physics alone”, we would do well to apply more
It is a much-needed initiative to introduce effective Apart from these findings from past data, tele- physics and science—as in using wireless technol-
management systems in coordinating relevant mini- communications and digitisation are now essential ogy in our networks, and having more temples to
stries for all aspects of transportation and logistics. to most aspects of living. Most importantly, tele- science, systems, and other practical disciplines.
It establishes digitised institutional processes for communications and the internet need major policy India has just enabled restricted use of 60 GHz,
comprehensive, integrated project planning and changes on network sharing and reduced taxes. although devices were available abroad for years. If
execution, to assist ministries and infrastructure sec- These are needed even more than capital to accel- government permits telcos to use 60 and 70-80 GHz
tors in achieving results. The aims are more efficient erate network coverage and delivery. Examples of “mmWave” technology for pay-for-use backhaul
outcomes at reduced cost and time. Done correctly, changes required include permitting high-speed with no loading of extraneous costs (auctions, extra
this will result in tremendous productivity benefits wireless without loading discretionary costs, such taxes), there would be enormous service and cost
at a low cost and with better envi- as up-front auctions, high costs for benefits in India, as in San Francisco and London.
ronmental impact. wireless links, and onerous proce- Changes are also needed to institutionalise easier
A primary purpose of Gati Shakti dures. Policy changes can reduce access to spectrum for authorised institutions and
is prioritisation for growth. Based pricing and sticky process/proce- researchers, so that India’s research and develop-
on limited lay access (more on this dures for operators and, ultimately, ment for commercial and defence is freed of arbi-
later), an element that needs atten- users and society as a whole. Until trary, self-imposed constraints and delays.
tion is telecommunications reform. this is done, users are either Public access to the Gati Shakti portal, limited
The need is for inexpensive, higher deprived of services because they for security reasons, was allowed from October
capacity/intensity connectivity, by are simply not there, or constrained 2022. A cursory look at the portal does not disclose
enabling spectrum usage for wire- by erratic and low-quality services, project details on sectors. It may be more amenable
less and shared networks at lower or burdened with high charges. The to authorised users; to a lay user, it appears to be a
capital investment with better util- impact is in many areas as indi- repository of reports that does not cater to mean-
isation. The platform’s effectiveness
SHYAM PONAPPA cated below: ingful queries or logical searches. Adding such
depends on this. Environmental care & climate capabilities would make it more informative and
Gati Shakti is based on the recommendations of mitigation: Effective broadband coverage and useful, although this will need to be balanced
the National Transport Development Policy shared networks significantly improve both. with security.
Committee1 in January 2014. Government agencies  Education and work life reach: Extending broad- The essential points are that improving living
such as the railways, roads and highways, shipping, band coverage to the many millions living in rural conditions requires enabling and applying technol-
aviation, power, telecom, and so on reportedly use or distant areas is one obvious need. This is also true ogy and know-how. Attention to scientific and
this for integrated planning and execution. During for the many urban users who endure poor services, domain applications to deal with ground realities
the past year, ministries responsible for fertiliser, coal, beyond the privileged, relatively few who have fibre will help improve our state of infrastructure for pro-
ports and the like reportedly identified nearly 200 or reliable high-speed wireless. Undoubtedly, a ductivity and ease of living. Prioritising digitisation
“infrastructure gaps” in first-mile or last-mile logistics. whole gamut of content and methods will need to and telecommunications will help correct losing out
An inter-ministerial expert panel monitors and rec- evolve to enable effective learning for less educated on growth and associated living conditions because
ommends corrective action. Presumably, this will be users, as will ways to mitigate costs to provide access. of inappropriate policies, and genuinely add both
tracked through the digitised database and portal, But it is probably the only way crucial services can Gati and Shakti to our efforts.
which also has geographic positioning capabilities. reach so many quickly, channel our population pro-
Prioritisation and policy changes more ductively and pre-empt their degeneration into dis- 1. Summary recommendations:
essential than capital: As observed in an earlier ruptive problem creators. This will open education http://www.aitd.net.in/NTDPC/rep_ntdpc_v1.pdf.
column, a World Bank study across many countries to many more boys and girls, and employment 2. Timilsina G. et al: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org.
validates the importance of telecommunications opportunities to men and women. 3. D. Sahoo et al: https://www.adb.org/publications.
(and electricity) for growth.2 A report published by  Similar benefits are feasible in areas such as e- 4.https://www.cv.nrao.edu/demerson/bose/emerson_delhi.pdf