Similar exercises should also be carried for Metro Rail projects, it has said.
Such continuous exercise, sources said, would help the government assess the impact of the projects on the economy and people’s lives considering the huge spending for creating such infrastructure. They added that the finance ministry has also asked Niti Aayog to continuously monitor data generated by such tests and recommend measures in consultation with the ministries concerned.
Considering the skewed share of cargo transported by road, rail and waterways, the finance ministry has also asked the Niti Aayog to carry out a study to assess the “optimal freight modal share” and prepare a plan for rationalising this. As per the finance ministry circular, the department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) under the commerce ministry has been urged to set up an institutional arrangement mechanism for execution of projects under multi-modal connectivity among the road transport, railway and shipping ministry. The National Logistics Policy (NLP) also aims to promote seamless movement of goods by promoting multi-modal transport networks.
