Prime Minister’s flagship platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, PRAGATI, has marked a significant milestone with the successful conduct of its 50th meeting. Since its launch by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, PRAGATI has transformed governance by enabling real-time monitoring and resolution of key infrastructure projects and public grievances through direct Prime Ministerial review.
The platform exemplifies cooperative federalism, bringing together the Centre, States, and Union Ministries on a single digital interface. Over a decade, PRAGATI has helped accelerate decision-making, resolution of issues causing delay in key infrastructure projects, and instilled a strong culture of accountability. Today, in this special series, we take a look at the Kudgi Super Thermal Power Project in Karnataka.
The Kudgi Super Thermal Power Project (Stage-I), implemented by NTPC Limited, is a coal-based thermal power project located in Vijayapura district of Karnataka. It is one of the largest power stations in South India, comprising three generating units of 800 megawatts each. Kudgi is one of NTPC’s largest greenfield thermal power projects in South India and plays a critical role in supporting industrial growth, urbanisation and infrastructure expansion across the region.
The power generated from the thermal power plant is allocated to multiple southern States and Union Territories, under long-term power purchase arrangements. Recognising the critical importance of the project, it was reviewed under the PRAGATI mechanism on 24th of June 2015, under the chairpersonship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Directions were laid down for faster handover of land, doubling of the railway line for the supply of critical material and provision of RoU for laying of water pipelines.
The objective was to ensure that the rail connectivity required for the movement of material to the thermal power plant was strengthened. The Ministry of Railways initiated and progressed the doubling work in a structured and time-bound manner so that logistics constraints did not delay the project.
Regular review under PRAGATI helped keep the issue on track and ensured that the project’s supply chain requirements were adequately supported. The project was completed on 3rd December 2018. The successful execution of Kudgi reinforces the role of the PRAGATI mechanism as a powerful instrument for converting large, capital-intensive investments into on-ground results.
