Government monitors big infrastructure projects via appraisal, online means

NEW DELHI: The government monitors the timely completion of big central sector infrastructure costing Rs 150 crore and above by various means, including rigorous project appraisal and online computerised monitoring system, Parliament was informed on Friday.

"The major steps undertaken to ensure timely completion of projects include rigorous project appraisal, online computerised monitoring system for better monitoring, setting-up of standing committees in the ministries for fixation of responsibility for time and cost overruns," Minister of State (Independent) for Statistics and Programme Implementation Srikant Kumar Jena said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha on Friday.

He said the monitoring is done on the basis of information supplied by the project implementing agencies.

Besides, monitoring is done by regular review of the infrastructure projects by the concerned administrative ministries, setting up of Cabinet Committee of Investment to review and monitor the implementation of major projects, he said.

In reply to a question on status of implementation of these projects in Gujarat, the minister said that there are 22 such projects in the state of which five are delayed.

"As on June 1, 2013, a total of 22 on-going central sector projects being implemented in Gujarat were on the monitor of this Ministry...A total of five projects reported delay," Jena said.

These projects in the state relate to atomic energy, petroleum, power, railways, road transport and highways, shipping and ports, the minister said.

Of these, one project in atomic energy, one in petroleum sector and three in road transport and highways are running late, Jena said.