PM Modi upset over complaints regarding customs, excise sector

Asked all Secretaries to set up a system for top-level monitoring of grievances immediately

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today took strong exception to people's complaints and grievances related to the customs and excise sector and directed strict action against the officials responsible.

He also asked all Secretaries, whose departments have extensive public dealing, to set up a system for top-level monitoring of grievances immediately, a PMO statement said.

His directions came while chairing the 9th meeting of PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation), an IT-based multi-modal platform under which he interacts with top officials of various central departments and state governments via video conferencing.

During the meeting, Modi reviewed the progress of vital infrastructure projects in the road, railway, coal, power and renewable energy sectors, spread over several states, including Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan, the statement said.

Among the significant projects reviewed were the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link, the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) and the Jal Marg Vikas Project from Allahabad to Haldia, it said.

The Prime Minister also reviewed the progress of the Ujjwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY).

He also took stock of the implementation of the National Old Age Pension Scheme and emphasised the need to ensure that beneficiaries receive the payment on time.