Enhanced digitalised monitoring has resulted in the shutting down of 51 stalled legacy and non-viable projects from 599 reviewed across the Northeast, a first for the region.
Enhanced digital monitoring has led to the closure of 51 stalled legacy and non-viable projects across the Northeastern region, Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region and Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia has said.
“Of the 97 per cent completed, 91 per cent have been operationalised, which is 223 out of 245 projects. Another 298 projects are ongoing,” Scindia stated during a media interaction in New Delhi on Friday, marking one year of the Ministry of Development of North East Region (MDoNER)’s performance in the third term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Third-party inspections of 599 out of 620 projects revealed that 56 had seen no progress.
“We have engaged with states to clean up both their and our balance sheets. As a result, 34 projects have been foreclosed, and 17 have been closed on an as-is, where-is basis,” he said.
Scindia noted that this was the first time such a comprehensive and consolidated review had taken place for the region. The progress of ongoing work is now tracked weekly through dashboard meetings with date, time, and photo tags.
“We monitor metrics like how many pillars were installed last week versus this week, and the extent of financial and physical progress. This has helped accelerate execution across states.”
To address earlier fund shortages, MDoNER has introduced a four-instalment release system.
“The first 25 per cent is given as an advance. Once 75 per cent of that is utilised, the next 25 per cent is released. When 75 per cent of the cumulative 50 per cent is utilised, another 25 per cent follows. Finally, when 75 per cent of the total 75 per cent is utilised, the last instalment is paid,” Scindia explained.
All infrastructure projects under MDoNER are now mapped on the Poorvottar Vikas Setu and Gati Shakti portals, with periodic social impact analyses and acceleration tracking.
– Manish Pant