Centre starts multi-monitoring of ₹2.7 lakh-cr infra projects

The Union government has decided on multi-level monitoring of the key infrastructure projects that are critical to the economic growth and job generation in the country. As part of the drive, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Railways and Consumer Affairs, Piyush Goyal chaired a meeting for the review of 20 large-scale infrastructure projects with issues enlisted for resolution, with the Project Monitoring Group. Som Prakash, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Chief Secretaries of Governments of Bihar, Haryana and Tamil Nadu, and Additional Chief Secretary, Industries of Government of Maharashtra participated in the meeting. Senior officials of key Central Ministries, including Railways, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Road Transport and Highways, Environment, Forest and Climate Change were also present to discuss issues affecting the progress of work and the timely completion of these critical projects. Railway Minister reviewed 59 issues in 20 critical infrastructure projects involving an estimated investment worth ₹2.7 lakh crore. This includes 11 projects previously reviewed under PRAGATI by the Prime Minister and among the projects reviewed, Dedicated Freight Corridors along eastern and western routes will augment capacity of rail freight transportation and establish industrial zones at junction points. Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor traverses through seven states and facilitates the development of industrial manufacturing in the influence region of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor. The minister issued directions and timelines to ensure expeditious resolution of pending issues for timely commissioning of all these projects.