New Delhi: Seeking to give a substantive push to physical infrastructure sectors in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has put all eight ministries involved on high alert and, setting them a target of adding 10 per cent more than what already exists by the end of the 2014-15 financial year. Also, to assign the “monitoring” role to the new body that will replace the Planning Commission, the PM has instructed the planning ministry to conduct “periodic empirical evaluation of projects” of various infrastructure ministries and present reports at the monthly review meeting chaired by Mr Modi himself.
“As empirical data is available on physical infrastructure like roads, railways, civil aviation, telecom, power, etc, the PM has asked them to add at least 10 per cent of what already exists... All ministries were asked to gear up execution plans so that they don’t lose out on their targets, which is verifiable,” a source said. The PM asked the planning ministry, now functioning with depleted staff, to conduct “periodic progress evaluation” of various infrastructure projects, “in a kind of trial run” for its future role, a source added.
The PM has also asked ministers in charge of infrastructure departments to electronically monitor the progress of projects. It is also learnt he has directed the railway ministry to submit a “comprehensive plan for encouraging FDI” in consultation with the planning ministry. “During a recent review meeting, the Mr Modi emphasised the importance for monitoring progress through efficiency parameters identified for each sector,” a source said.
