PM fixes deadline for transport projects

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari to chair a meeting every month to address pending projects like port-connecting roads, railway bridges and airport related works.

The prime minister chaired a meeting recently comprising ministers and officials of railways, highways, ports and aviation ministries. He directed Gadkari, also in charge of the port and shipping ministry, to hold a meeting in the first week of every month to monitor the progress of transport-related infrastructure projects.

The meeting will be attended by Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda and Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju apart from the prime minister’s principal secretary, cabinet secretary and secretaries to the ministries concerned.

The prime minister has told Gadkari his primary task would be to resolve the problems of over 100 pending railway over bridges and under bridges, stuck for over four to five years due to various reasons, in three months. The prime minister also directed that Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar be involved, if green clearances for these projects are required.
 Modi also instructed the railway minister to make Indian Railways the identity of India, by giving services focusing on the common man. 

He wanted the Railways to exploit solar power to reduce the energy bill and explore using light-weight wagons that can carry more revenue-generating cargo.

As the prime minister discussed his agenda of upgrading at least five major ports to international standards over the next four-five years, he directed Gadkari to expedite the process, attracting global investors for the project.