In this episode of Budget Bottomline, we decode the real impact of PM Gati Shakti with Vaibhav Dange, Co-founder of Build India Foundation, and Nilaya Varma, CEO of Primus Partners. The discussion goes beyond headline numbers to examine how integrated planning, execution intelligence, and multimodal connectivity are reshaping India’s infrastructure landscape. The panel explains how India has made significant strides; near-total railway electrification, rapid highway expansion, growing port capacity, and a doubling of airports. Yet challenges such as land acquisition, project delays, weak urban planning, and muted private sector investment continue to slow progress. Land, the experts point out, is not just a legal issue in India—it is emotional, cultural, and deeply tied to livelihoods. The conversation also highlights why urban planning and district-level infrastructure could become India’s next growth engine, how better design can reduce pollution and congestion, and why private investment is critical to pushing growth beyond the 6–7% range toward 8–10%. With insights on logistics costs, PPP models, smart cities, sustainability, skilling, and budget expectations, this episode offers a clear-eyed view of what’s working, what’s stuck, and what Budget 2026 must deliver to keep India’s infrastructure momentum alive.