Rs One Lakh Crore Infra Push: How Modi’s PRAGATI Is Helping Accelerate Government Projects

When Narendra Modi took office in 2014, several major projects were languishing due to various reasons such as lack of environmental clearance, land issues, lack of funding or legal issues. After promising to put them back on track, the government started the Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation (PRAGATI) platform.

PRAGATI, envisioned as a monitoring and meeting platform between the Prime Minister and the stakeholders, was established in 2015 to find a solution to all the projects that had been in limbo over the previous years. In the very first PRAGATI meeting, Modi had discussions on unseasonal rain, Swachh Bharat, Ease of Doing Business, Income Tax Refunds as well as National Highways in Maharashtra. The PM in turn directed officials to take actions to speed up implementation. PRAGATI integrates Digital Data Management, Video-Conferencing and Geo-Spatial Technology and is not bound to any sector.

A year and a half into its launch, PRAGATI seems to be paying off. Numbers from the government show that 136 projects worth over Rs one lakh crore have been given a push. Pending projects, such as the Nangal Dam - Talawara line in Punjab, languishing since 1982, have gotten a new lease of life after the Centre directed the state to acquire land and give forest clearance.

Projects of strategic importance such as a transmission line in Kargil-Leh-Drass and international projects such as the Parliament Road in Afghanistan and hyrdo-power plant in Bhutan have also come under PRAGATI. At the end of every month, the PM sets up a video-conference with secretaries at both central and state levels to resolve issues relating to stalled projects. In one such meeting, he stated that the mission of PRAGATI was to eliminate barriers between various government agencies that acted as a roadblock to better decision making.

Here's hoping we see a lot more pragati (progress).