New Delhi, Jan 26 (Agency) Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has called for addressing the issues being faced by agencies implementing infrastructure projects on a priority basis to ensure timely completion of projects. In a review of the pace of implementation of infrastructure projects being monitored through the Project Monitoring Group (PMG) portal, Goyal directed that regular meetings be held with state governments and Central ministries to ensure timely resolution of issues. The Minister has been closely monitoring activities on PMG portal and following a review of select projects in June 2021, under the Minister’s guidance, 687 projects with a value of Rs 17.9 lakh crores have been brought on PMG for monitoring and timely completion. This brings the total projects enlisted on PMG since inception to 1,726.
The PMG portal of Invest India is a unique institutional mechanism to facilitate resolution of bottlenecks in infrastructure projects. Presently, PMG is monitoring 1,351 under implementation projects with total anticipated investment of around Rs 48.94 lakh crore. Projects of infrastructure ministries, such as road, transport and highways; railways; petroleum and natural gas; new and renewable energy and power are listed on the portal. The PMG mechanism allows project proponents to raise issues with concerned government agencies, which are causing hindrances in implementation of projects. Issues raised on PMG portal pertain primarily to land acquisition (about 40 per cent); grant of right of use/ right of way (25 per cent); and forest, environment and wildlife clearances (14 per cent). In 2021, PMG also incorporated milestone based monitoring of projects.
This feature will allow for forecasting delays in projects to avoid time and cost overruns and identify agencies and authorities responsible for delays. Once enlisted on PMG, the projects and corresponding issues are taken up for resolution through meetings with State Governments and Central Ministries. The portal provides for seamless flow of information as all stakeholders concerned with a project have access to the portal and through regular updates and meetings, issues are addressed in a time-bound manner.