PM Modi Seeks Details On Govt’s Big Infra Push

By BW CFO World Online Bureau

PM Narendra Modi has asked to provide all details of the projects involved in the big infra push made by the government.

PM Modi has asked government departments to prepare a list of infrastructure projects that have been delayed due to decisions of courts. He also asked for departments to account for losses that they incurred to the exchequer by such time overruns. He made this directive at the last Pragati meeting. The prime minister reviewed eight projects in the meeting.

The minutes of the meeting say, “Environment and Forest, railways and road transport and highway ministries in consultation with law and justice ministry should identify decision of courts, NGT etc., related to land acquisition, forest or other clearances which are causing delay in infrastructure project. The cabinet secretary should monitor such exercise. A list of delayed projects due to such court decisions including loss incurred to the exchequer may also be prepared.

A report quotes sources as saying that although the government has prioritized timely completion of projects, the fact that they have set ambitious targets to monetize the same, has brought this to the forefront. For example, the projection to monetize 26,700 kilometers of complete NHs by 2025 to generate Rs 1.6 lakh crore is based on the stretches that are scheduled for completion over the next three years. An informal group of ministers has been tasked to monitor the progress of implementation of the decisions taken at Pragati meetings.