In a significant boost to India's infrastructure development, the central government has approved a massive 237 power projects with a combined worth exceeding ₹10 lakh crore over the past decade. This achievement is credited to the proactive monitoring under the Prime Minister's flagship PRAGATI initiative.
Direct PMO Scrutiny Resolves Long-Standing Delays
Officials revealed that the Proactive Governance and Timely Implementation (PRAGATI) platform, launched in March 2015, has been instrumental in fast-tracking critical projects. A core focus was on delayed works, with 53 projects valued at ₹4.1 lakh crore identified as stalled. These included 27 transmission projects, 14 thermal power plants, 9 hydroelectric ventures, and 3 coal mines.
Of these, a total of 43 projects worth ₹3 lakh crore were directly monitored by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. "Of these, 43 projects worth Rs 3 lakh crore were delayed due to various reasons. They are now commissioned," a senior official confirmed. The remaining 108 projects, with an approximate value of ₹6 lakh crore, are currently being tracked through different layers of the PRAGATI ecosystem.
Overcoming Systemic Hurdles in Power Sector
The power sector in India has historically faced multifaceted challenges leading to delays. Officials cited a complex mix of administrative, technical, regulatory, and natural factors as primary causes.
- Land acquisition and environmental clearances
- Rehabilitation and resettlement issues
- Fuel linkage problems and contractual disputes
- Delays in equipment supply and right-of-way permissions
- Coordination gaps between central and state agencies
- Difficult terrain and limited working seasons
The PRAGATI platform's intervention proved crucial in minimizing inter-departmental bottlenecks. "Monitoring under Pragati helped minimise inter-departmental delays, significantly improving the execution of power projects," the official stated. The platform has conducted 50 high-level review meetings chaired by the Prime Minister since its inception.
Major Projects Commissioned and Enhanced National Grid
The direct oversight has led to the successful commissioning of several high-profile, nationally significant projects. This has tangibly improved India's power landscape.
Key projects that were reviewed and fast-tracked include:
- Gadarwara Super Thermal Power Project (Madhya Pradesh)
- Lara Super Thermal Power Project Stage-I (Chhattisgarh)
- Parbati-II Hydroelectric Project (Himachal Pradesh)
- Pare and Kameng Hydropower Projects (Arunachal Pradesh)
- Tehri Pumped Storage Project (Uttarakhand)
- Khetri–Narela Transmission Project
Among the executing agencies, state-owned Power Grid Corporation of India led with 20 commissioned projects, followed by NTPC with 14. NHPC, North Eastern Electric Power Corporation, THDC, and Sterlite contributed two projects each.
The successful completion of these stalled initiatives has yielded substantial national benefits. "Many stalled power generation and transmission projects are commissioned, resulting in enhanced power availability, improved grid reliability and better utilisation of national investment, thereby preventing cost overruns," another official explained.
In summary, the PRAGATI scheme has established itself as an effective model of proactive governance. It has successfully bridged the gap between policy planning and on-ground execution, ensuring that large-scale infrastructure projects are completed in a transparent, accountable, and time-bound manner, fortifying India's energy security.
