NITI Aayog should help expedite infrastructure projects: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday said the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog should focus on quick resolution of inter-departmental and centre-state issues to speed up the pace of implementation of infrastructure projects.

Modi, after a a high-level meeting on infrastructure here, directed the concerned ministries to work in a "mission mode" towards achieving electrification of the remaining 20,000 unelectrified villages, in a clearly defined time-frame, an official statement said.

"Innovative solutions should be explored for ensuring total rural electrification, including solar energy, power connectivity through nearby railway infrastructure and off-grid solutions," he said.

The prime minister was informed that issues regarding coal supply to existing power plants were resolved and "not even one power plant faces a shortage of coal".

Modi also reviewed the plans for augmenting solar power generation capacity in the country, it said.

As an illustration, he suggested that BCCI could be involved in an effort to convert power consumption of all major cricket stadiums across the country from conventional energy to solar energy.

Reviewing the progress in coastal development, the prime minister reiterated his call for a "Blue Revolution", integrating coastal shipping, tourism and regional development through the Sagarmala project.

He called for a fundamental change in the approach towards redevelopment of railway stations and development of areas contiguous to railway corridors that run through major cities in the country.

Government officers from all related infrastructure ministries, the PMO and NITI Aayog were present at the meeting.