PM Modi asks top bureaucrats to resolve issues plaguing infra projects, not wait for review at his level

PM Modi (File photo)

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked the country’s top bureaucrats and state chief secretaries to find ways to resolve issues plaguing infrastructure projects rather than waiting for him to hold reviews.He made these remarks while chairing the web-based Pragati meeting with the officials, where cabinet secretary T V Somananthan made a detailed presentation on the steps taken by Centre and states to expedite a couple of projects by decades, including the 83-km Nangal Dam-Talwara-Mukerian new railway line project in Punjab, North Koel Reservoir project in Bihar and Jharkhand, and the 5th Stream Refinery Expansion at Nalco’s plant in Odisha, sources said.“The PM urged officials to work out strategies for better coordination to resolve issues so that there is no delay in project execution. There has been a trend that all officials and agencies concerned expedite all approvals and clearances when any project is included for review at Pragati meeting. So, he meant that this should be a natural process,” said an official.In a statement, the PMO said Modi urged officials at both the central and state levels to adopt a result-oriented approach, translating opportunities into improved quality of life for people, while also advancing the goals of ease of living for citizens and ease of doing business for enterprises. During the meeting, the PM reviewed eight critical infrastructure projects across sectors, including mines, railways, water resources, industrial corridors, and power. These projects span 15 states and UTs, with a cumulative investment of over Rs 65,000 crore.