In infra push, Modi bats for novel solutions

Tells ministries funding no longer a problem, seeks total electrification

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked the infrastructure ministries to quickly resolve issues hurting projects and look at innovative ways to create capacity.

Modi, chairing a meeting of infrastructure ministries, also asked the NITI Aayog to focus on quick resolution of inter-department and Centre-state issues to speed up the pace of implementation of infrastructure projects.

Referring to his meeting with top international investors during the recent BlackRock India Investor Summit, Modi said funds were no longer a constraint for the infrastructure sector. He directed all departments concerned to create an environment conducive for investment.

During the meeting, the NITI Aayog made a presentation on all infrastructure sectors, including power, coal, renewable energy, ports and coastal development, roads as well as railways. Senior officials from all infrastructure ministries, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), and the NITI Aayog attended the meeting.

"The prime minister directed the ministries concerned to work in mission mode towards achieving electrification of the remaining 20,000 unelectrified villages, in a clearly defined time frame," the PMO said in a statement. "He said innovative solutions should be explored to ensure total rural electrification."

The innovative measures included increasing access to solar energy, power connectivity through the nearby railway infrastructure and off-grid solutions. Modi also reviewed the government's plan to add solar power generation capacity. "As an illustration, the prime minister suggested that the Board of Control for Cricket in India could be involved in an effort to convert power consumption of all major cricket stadiums across the country from conventional sources to solar," the statement said.

The power ministry told the PM issues regarding coal supply to power plants have been resolved and no power plant today faces coal shortage.

The government is monitoring 700 infrastructure sector projects. Over 80 per cent of these are delayed due to cost-overruns. Most of the delayed projects are in the railways sector. The NITI Aayog has suggested carrying out techno-economic analysis of all priority projects to arrive at an idea of overall time and cost-overruns.

Reviewing the progress in coastal development, the prime minister called for a focus on a Blue Revolution (meaning pisciculture)and integrating of coastal shipping with tourism and regional development. He also asked for a change in the approach towards redevelopment of railway stations and development of areas contiguous to railway corridors that run through major cities.