Review key infra projects: PM

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday directed immediate review of infrastructure projects in important sectors like power, telecom, roads and railways with an aim to expedite their execution.

"The Prime Minister expressed concern with the slow progress of infrastructure projects and has directed that a meeting of the Committee on Infrastructure be called to review progress in power, roads, ports, telecom and railway sectors," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a press release.

The implementation of Sachar Committee report on empowerment of Muslims also came up for discussion at the meeting called by Singh to review the progress of schemes under the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP).

Singh also reviewed the progress in the implementation of the Radhakrishna Committee on agricultural indebtedness and the Vaidyanathan Committee Report on cooperative sector.

Social sector programmes like Mid-day Meal Scheme, Integrated Child Development Scheme, revamping of Public Distribution System, implementation of Social Security Initiatives like old age pension, health insurance schemes for disabled persons also came up for scrutiny.

Singh also reviewed the implementation of the initiatives in education sector, including the announcements made by him in his Independence Day address with regard to setting up new elite institutions like IITs and IIMs and colleges across the country.