Don't keep proposing projects just for Varanasi, PM tells bureaucrats

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi has asked country’s top bureaucrats not to propose more and more projects for Varanasi simply because he represents the constituency and instead distribute them fairly across the country.

Sources said the PM said this while chairing a recent meeting of secretaries from the infrastructure sector and reviewing the progress of schemes. PM’s direction is also being seen as a bold message to central ministers who often focus more on projects in their home states or constituencies. This trend has often come under criticism during different dispensations when in power at the Centre.

The current government has made an effort to empower secretaries and given them more say in planning and execution of infrastructure projects with the PM’s office (PMO) holding regular review meetings and monitoring the progress frequently. “Undoubtedly, secretaries have been identified as the key persons when it comes to delivery of government projects and schemes. So, when PM shares his views with secretaries in any meeting, the message is clear for all sectors and everyone understands what they need to do,” said an official who did not wish to be named.


The PM has been chairing monthly web-based meetings with Union secretaries and chief secretaries of states for faster progress of infrastructure projects under PRAGATI initiative.

Officials also admitted that all these years the model of development and push for infrastructure has been largely the same. “Ministers have greater preference for their states and constituencies since they have to win the next election. So, it’s natural that they would take special interest in their states getting good chunk of projects and works. This has been the development model for decades irrespective of who the key ministers have been in the infrastructure sectors where central government has greater liberty in executing works such as highways, railways, petroleum and natural gas,” said another official.