Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan today said the Prime Minister’s flagship platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation -PRAGATI system has accelerated the implementation of mega projects and key welfare schemes. Addressing the media in New Delhi on the outcomes of PRAGATI, Mr Somanathan said that so far, 50 meetings of PRAGATI have been held, and under it, over three thousand three hundred projects worth 85 lakh crore rupees, including those which faced problems, were reviewed.
He informed that 61 government schemes, including One Nation One Ration Card and PM Jan Arogya Yojana, were also reviewed, other than the projects. He said that since the implementation of PRAGATI in 2015, 36 different classes of grievances, including issues related to Corona, Banking and Insurance and Jan Dhan Yojana, were reviewed.
The Cabinet Secretary said PRAGATI led system has helped resolve 7 thousand 156 issues out of the 7 thousand 735 issues related to projects. He also informed that PRAGATI has helped with the commissioning of critical projects like the Jammu- Udhampur- Srinagar Baramulla Rail Link Project and Bogibeel Rail cum Road Bridge over the river Brahmaputra.
Mr Somanathan said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi conceptualised PRAGATI as a comprehensive solution to the large time and cost overruns in the country’s public projects and schemes across tiers of government. He said, this is a system that has been in force for ten years. The objective of PRAGATI is to improve Centre-Centre and Centre- State Coordination to fast-track critical infrastructure projects facing issues and bottlenecks.
PRAGATI mechanism deploys a technology-based platform for Project Monitoring, Citizens’ Grievance Redressal and Reviewing Scheme implementation through active collaboration of Central Ministries and State Governments. The Prime Minister chairs PRAGATI Review Meetings directly with Chief Secretaries of States and Secretaries of Central Ministries and Departments to address issues in specific Projects and Schemes.
Speaking about Railway projects reviewed under PRAGATI, CEO and Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar said there are 427 projects, of which 38 per cent have been completed. Secretary, Road Transport and Highways V Umashankar, said the Road Transport and Highways Ministry is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the PRAGATI initiative. Secretary, Ministry of Power, Pankaj Agarwal said 416 projects of the Ministry of Power were reviewed under PRAGATI, in which 885 issues came to notice, out of which 803 were resolved.
PRAGATI continues to serve as an effective platform for driving accountability and accelerating project implementation through close monitoring and review at the highest level.
