PM reviews progress of 9 vital infrastructure projects

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : PM Narendra Modi on August 30, 2017, chaired his twenty-first interaction through Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation (PRAGATI), the ICT-based multi-modal platform. The first twenty meetings of PRAGATI have seen a cumulative review of 183 projects with a total investment of Rs. 8.79 lakh crore. Resolution of Public Grievances has also been reviewed in 17 sectors.

On August 30, the Prime Minister reviewed the progress in resolution of grievances related to patents and trademarks. He noted the improvement in performance, asked the concerned officers to work towards further expediting the processing of patent and trademark applications. Officials explained the steps taken towards speeding up the grant of patents and trademarks including enhanced manpower. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of using latest available technology to streamline the process to reach global standards in this regard.

The Prime Minister reviewed the progress of nine vital infrastructure projects worth over Rs 56,000 crore in the railway, road, power and oil pipeline and health sectors spread over several states including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Punjab, West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Telangana, and Kerala. The projects reviewed on August 30 included the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor, and construction of four new AIIMS at Manglagiri in Andhra Pradesh, Kalyani in West Bengal, Nagpur in Maharashtra, and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, according to a PIB release.

The Prime Minister also reviewed the progress of the Smart Cities Mission. He appreciated the participation of cities in the challenge route. He said the challenge before everyone is now to ensure implementation and expeditious completion of the work in the 90 identified cities with high quality. Reviewing the progress of the Forest Rights Act, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of using space technology to determine the rights of tribal communities and settle claims expeditiously, said the PIB release.

The Prime Minister said that the apprehensions with regard to GST had proved to be unfounded and a smooth transition has happened. He asked all Chief Secretaries to further boost efforts to increase registration under GST and to achieve a quantum jump in this regard within a month. On Government e-Marketplace (GeM), he said the portal has improved transparency, and has reduced wasteful expenditure. He asked the Chief Secretaries of all States to give priority to GeM in government procurements, according to the PIB release.