Maharashtra government to install live-monitoring system for infrastructure projects

MUMBAI: To curb misuse of government grants and effectively supervise infrastructure projects, Maharashtra government will install a live monitoring system that will be controlled through the state Secretariat.

An official from the State planning department said the round-the-clock monitoring of all working projects will be done through a satellite and will start functioning in next few months.

The official said after receiving instructions from state minister for finance and planning Sudhir Mungantiwar, planning department along with technical support from Maharashtra Remote Sensing Application Centre (MRSAC), will monitor the actual progress of all ongoing and new projects.

"Construction of roads and dams will be monitored through the control room which will be set up at Mantralaya (the Secretariat)," the official said.

The finance minister said the decision has been taken after alleged cases of corruption in irrigation projects came to fore in the recent past.

"We have decided to use every rupee that comes from the tax payers on constructive work only. It will happen only when we keep an eye on projects. This is not possible without using the technical machinery, and thus, we will take the support of satellite imagery," Mungantiwar said.

MRSAC is a Nagpur-based autonomous organisation under the administrative control of state's department of planning.

MRSAC will provide live pictures of construction sites, which will be available on a big screen at the control room in Mantralaya.

"These live pictures will be accessible to a few senior officials from the planning department, including the finance minister," the official added.