PM chairs meeting on timely implementation of projects

New Delhi, Feb 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired his 17th interaction through PRAGATI -- ICT-based multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation -- and reviewed infrastructure projects, an official statement said.The Prime Minister reviewed the progress of handling and resolution of grievances related to the telecom sector, the statement said.It said most of the grievances related to issues of poor service quality, connectivity and non-functioning of landline connections. Telecom Secretary outlined the steps taken so far in this regard."The Prime Minister emphasized the need for improving efficiency, and fixing accountability at all levels to bring about a visible change in the situation at the earliest. Recalling his review in April 2015, he called for using available and existing technological solutions to address the problems faced by the people," the statement said.During a review of the progress of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), the Prime Minister underlined the Union government s commitment to provide housing for all by 2022.He urged the states to come up with strategies, timebound action plans and roadmap, and a monitoring mechanism to follow up on this goal."He called for the use of latest technology inputs to improve the pace and quality of work," the statement said.The Prime Minister urged all Secretaries to the Government of India and state Chief Secretaries to review the situation with regard to ease of doing business.Referring to the World Bank s "Ease of Doing Business" Report, he asked the officials to assess the progress based on parameters used in this report. He also asked senior officials in the Union government to review the progress on a weekly basis.The Prime Minister also reviewed the progress of vital infrastructure projects in railway, road, port, power and natural gas sectors, spread over many states, including Telangana, Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Haryana, Bihar, West Bengal, and Meghalaya.Modi reiterated the importance of completing projects in time, so that cost overruns could be avoided, and the benefits of projects could reach the people.