PMG - Focus on Resolving Infrastructure Conundrum
Welcoming these initiatives, some of the captains of the industry view them as the most positive developments in sharp contrast to earlier practices. The impact of these developments is producing results, they affirm, adding that fortunately today we have a transparent and fixed resolution process clearing logjams settled around infrastructure projects, thus ending our growing unease on the current slowdown spell largely due to stalled projects. If such systems, both CCI and PMG had been placed much earlier, then the country would not have lost its growth momentum, they assert.

Anil Swarup
Additional Secretary & Chairman PMG
He further informed that there is an online CCI Projects Tracking System in place for tracking projects. In case of the need to fast track the project, the developer can go to the website and furnish all the details and issues needed to be addressed. By logging on to www.cabsec.nic.in, the developers can directly get in touch with PMG who in turn would find out tripartite solutions to the problems of the developers. Once these issues are identified, tripartite Sub-Groups attempt to resolve them. Twelve such Sub-Groups have already been constituted. They comprise sponsoring ministry, the recipient department and the PMG. Developers and other stakeholders in the projects are invited and all issues are discussed threadbare in a transparent manner. Action points are finalized and posted on the website for the information of the developers/entrepreneurs. In a span of 3 months, the group has been able to facilitate clearance of 38 projects involving an investment of Rs.1.51 lakh-cr. The list includes 17 power projects with an investment of over Rs.95,000cr and has been able to tie up fuel supply issue. The held up projects, which have been cleared, are part of 244 projects with total investment of over Rs.12.5 lakh-cr and are being monitored regularly by the PMG.

As nearly 50% of the infrastructure issues relate to states and local bodies, teams from centre including PMG officials regularly visit the states and actively interact with the State officials, Chief Secretaries and related officials and PMG system provides this common forum to discuss these issues. As such, PMG is not involved in arranging funds but facilitates financing options. According to Mr. Swarup, "The entire process of monitoring is very transparent and discussions are held in a frank and candid environment with genuine attempt to resolve the issues confronting the developers at local level including fixing time frame for implementing decision arrived at."

Rounding up the conversation, Mr. Swarup disclosed how the last hurdle for the opening of five star hotels that formed a part of the Aerocity Projects, the hospitality district near IGIA stuck up for a long time was sorted out through the intervention of PMG as a facilitator and solution provider providing the much needed platform to bring all the stakeholders of the projects on board.
There is no better way to revive infrastructure growth and investment confidence than fixing problems in infrastructure-friendly environment to resolve infrastructure conundrum, injecting transparency, accountability, and efficiency as enshrined in PMG mandate, thus reducing discretions and dilly dallying in the clearance and approval process.