PM directs expediting Bhilai Steel plant modernization

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday directed that the modernization and expansion work of the Bhilai Steel Plant should be expedited.

Chaired the 12th interaction through PRAGATI -- the Information and Communications Technology (ICT)-based, multi-modal platform for pro-active governance and timely Implementation -- Modi took "serious note" of the delay in the project, an official release said.

He directed the steel and heavy engineering ministries to sort out all pending issues related to it and also maintained that the project should be "completed at the earliest", an official release said.

Modi had launched his ambitious multi-purpose and multi-modal platform Pro-Active Governance And Timely Implementation (PRAGATI) on March 25 last year.

The unique integrating and interactive platform is aimed at addressing a common man's grievances, and simultaneously monitoring and reviewing important programmes and projects of the government of India as well as projects flagged by state governments, officials said.

The Prime Minister on Wednesday reviewed the progress towards handling and resolution of grievances related to disbursement of scholarships/fellowships to students, an official release said here.

According to the release, the Prime Minister sought to know the reasons for the delay and enquired about the progress of Aadhaar-linkage to disbursal of benefits to students.

He urged the concerned officials to increase the speed of addressing grievances, and aim for quick and effective resolution of students' issues with regard to scholarships and fellowships.

The Prime Minister also reviewed the progress of vital infrastructure projects in the road, railway, steel and power sectors, spread over several states including Tripura, Mizoram, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.

The railway projects reviewed included the Akhaura-Agartala rail line, which will be a vital link between India and Bangladesh.

He also reviewed the progress of the "waste to wealth" initiative under the Swachh Bharat Mission, an official release said. Various states gave details about the progress of works under this initiative, it said.

--IANS

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