Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for only those national highway projects that are litigation-free, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has informed the Road Transport and Highway Ministry.
The ministry said the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for projects that have land availability and clearances from all agencies concerned.
This is for the first time such an official direction has come from the PMO, specifying conditions for projects to be proposed for foundation-laying by the Prime Minister.
According to the circular, the agencies concerned will be required to ensure that the funding from multilateral agencies such as the World Bank or JICA for projects are finalised in advance.
Recently, while interacting with the Council of Ministers, PM had said that the government’s focus is to complete the works without any delay.
“The norms have now been laid down that the agencies need to obtain the necessary no objection certificates (NOCs) and clearances so that there is no delay in execution,” according to a senior official.
Earlier on 26 October 2016, Modi had told secretaries at the Centre and chief secretaries that he would lay the foundation for any infrastructure project only when it’s ready for take-off with all clearances and there is required land with the agencies concerned.
He had made this observation at the monthly PRAGATI meeting while reviewing the slow progress of expansion of Delhi-Meerut expressway.