PM Modi chairs 51st meeting of PRAGATI, reviews seven critical infrastructure projects across railways, power and road sectors
New Delhi, May 27
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired the 51st meeting of PRAGATI, the ICT-enabled, multi-modal platform aimed at fostering Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, by seamlessly integrating efforts of the Central and State governments, at Seva Teerth.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister reviewed seven critical infrastructure projects across the Railways, Power and Road sectors covering nine States worth around Rs 30,000 crore.
These projects, pivotal to economic growth and public welfare, were reviewed with a focus on timelines, inter-agency coordination, and timely issue resolution. Prime Minister also reviewed Ken Betwa Link Project and Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.
While reviewing power sector projects, Prime Minister emphasized the need to accelerate rooftop solar adoption across urban areas, with a special focus on cities, residential clusters and public institutions. He underlined that rooftop solar should be taken up in mission mode to reduce electricity costs, improve energy security and promote clean energy at the household and community level, a release said.
While reviewing road and port connectivity projects, it was emphasised that Vadhavan Port should be developed as a model of port-led, multi-modal development, where every major mode of transport is seamlessly integrated to create a future-ready logistics ecosystem. The project should not be seen merely as a port, but as a national gateway connected through coastal shipping, inland waterways, dedicated freight corridors, high-speed rail connectivity, highways and airport linkages.
Prime Minister emphasised the need for effective implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 and underlined that the mission should move beyond infrastructure creation and ensure measurable outcomes through regular monitoring, citizen participation and convergence between various stakeholders.
He asked states to expedite the completion of solid waste management-related infrastructure, including waste processing plants and GOBARdhan plants.
While reviewing Ken-Betwa River Inter-linking Project, Prime Minister observed that Ken-Betwa project should serve as a model for other States to resolve inter-State water issues through cooperation, timely clearances, technology-based monitoring and mission-mode execution. States were encouraged to identify similar opportunities where river-linking, water conservation, groundwater recharge and efficient irrigation can be taken up in an integrated manner to ensure long-term water security.
Prime Minister also underlined that the delay in the implementation of public projects leads not only to cost escalation but also deprives citizens of timely access to essential facilities and development benefits. He observed that every delay has a direct impact on people's lives, regional growth and public resources. He stressed that Ministries, Departments and States must adopt a more proactive and time-bound approach to resolve pending issues, remove bottlenecks and ensure faster execution.
Prime Minister also emphasized that innovative use of canal networks should be explored, including installation of solar panels along canals and over canals for clean electricity generation. This would help optimize land use, reduce evaporation losses, generate renewable energy and create additional economic value from water infrastructure.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Cabinet Secretary informed that, in pursuance of the directions of the Prime Minister, a system of monthly review of social sector schemes at the State level has also been operationalised. This mechanism aims to ensure regular monitoring, faster resolution of implementation issues and greater accountability at the State and district levels.
As part of this initiative, Swachh Bharat Mission has been taken up for review at the State level in the first instance.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good to see the PM personally reviewing projects worth Rs 30,000 crore. The Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 needs to be more than just building toilets – waste processing plants are crucial. But I'm tired of all the delays. Every time there's a new project, it's like watching paint dry. Hope the 'mission-mode' approach actually works this time.
The Vadhavan Port project sounds ambitious – a future-ready logistics ecosystem with everything from freight corridors to airport linkages. That's exactly what India needs to become a manufacturing hub. But why does it always take the PM's personal intervention to get things moving? Bureaucracy needs a serious overhaul. Also, solar panels on canals? Brilliant idea, but hope it doesn't get lost in red tape. 🚂
I appreciate the focus on renewable energy and rooftop solar. If implemented well, it can reduce our electricity bills significantly. The GOBARdhan plants for waste-to-energy are also a step in the right direction for rural areas. But let's be realistic – the track record of timely execution is poor. These reviews need to translate into ground-level action, not just photo ops. Still, better late than never! 🌞
The PRAGATI platform is one of the better governance tools we've seen. But I have one concern – these reviews focus heavily on big-ticket infrastructure, but what about basic amenities like drinking water and healthcare in rural areas? The Ken-Betwa linking is good, but will it benefit the small farmer or just boost industrial water usage? Also, the monthly review of social sector schemes sounds promising, but accountability at the district level is still a joke.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.