NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has instructed top bureaucrats and state chief secretaries to proactively address delays in infrastructure projects, rather than waiting for him to review and assign accountability. During a web-based Pragati meeting on Wednesday, the PM emphasized that officials should take the initiative in resolving issues and should not rely on his intervention to speed up progress.
Sources indicated that Modi asked whether any disciplinary action had been taken against officials responsible for delays. “In almost every Pragati meeting, the PM stresses the importance of completing projects on time and fixing responsibility. He also suggested that states set up review mechanisms similar to Pragati to monitor and resolve project issues,” said one official.
At the meeting, Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somananthan presented a progress report detailing steps taken by both the Centre and states to expedite long-delayed projects. This included major projects like the 83-km Nangal Dam-Talwara-Mukerian railway line in Punjab and the North Koel Reservoir project spanning Bihar and Jharkhand, both of which have faced decades-long delays.
These projects were last reviewed by Modi in June, and he had instructed officials to keep them on the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting. “The PM urged officials to come up with better coordination strategies to resolve issues, ensuring there are no delays in project execution,” said a government official. “It’s become a pattern that when a project is included in a Pragati review, all concerned agencies expedite approvals and clearances. The PM wants this to become a natural, ongoing process,” the official added.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) highlighted Modi’s call for a result-oriented approach that directly translates into improved quality of life for citizens. He also emphasized that the focus should be on achieving the goals of ease of living and ease of doing business.
“The PM reiterated that delays not only drive up project costs but also deny citizens timely access to critical services and infrastructure,” the PMO statement read. Modi further urged states and union territories to implement their own review mechanisms to regularly monitor flagship projects, resolve bottlenecks, and ensure timely completion.
