Modi Reviews 16,000 Crore Infrastructure Projects
PRAGATI meeting focuses on timely execution, PM Ekta Malls, bulk drug parks and railway redevelopment.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reviewed infrastructure projects worth more than 16,000 crore across 31 states and Union Territories, covering railways, PM Ekta Malls and bulk drug parks.
Chairing the 54th meeting of PRAGATI, the ICT-enabled platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, at his office in Seva Teerth, Modi emphasised timely completion of projects, inter-agency coordination and the removal of implementation bottlenecks.
Reviewing the PM Ekta Mall initiative, Modi said the malls should provide markets for local products, strengthen artisans' livelihoods and help them expand their businesses.
He called for linking the malls with tourism and local enterprises to generate employment in rural production, packaging, storage and transportation. He also directed chief secretaries to regularly review their progress and ensure timely completion.
The PM Ekta Mall initiative, announced in the Union Budget 2023-24, aims to promote One District, One Product (ODOP) items, Geographical Indication (GI) products and handicrafts. Each mall will have dedicated space for products from different states and Union Territories.
Reviewing bulk drug parks in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, Modi stressed the need to increase domestic production of active pharmaceutical ingredients and essential inputs to reduce import dependence.
He directed chief secretaries to hold monthly reviews with district magistrates to identify implementation gaps and ensure that welfare benefits reached eligible beneficiaries on time.
The Prime Minister said governance should focus on outcomes rather than expenditure alone, ensuring that public funds translated into tangible improvements in people's lives.
Referring to the Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks programmes, he highlighted the importance of coordination, monitoring and local accountability.
He said sustained improvements in governance and welfare delivery had helped nearly 25 crore people move out of multidimensional poverty.
During a review of the Ahmedabad railway station redevelopment project, Modi called for expediting similar projects across the country. He said redeveloped stations should function as multimodal transport hubs with seamless links to Metro services and other transport networks.
The Prime Minister directed ministries and state governments to resolve bottlenecks on a mission-mode basis and fix accountability for completing projects on schedule.