PRAGATI Platform Overview

The Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation (PRAGATI) platform accelerates infrastructure project implementation by integrating digital project monitoring, promoting coordination between ministries and states, and resolving issues related to land and environment.

Impact and Achievements

• Since 2015, PRAGATI has addressed over 3,300 delayed projects worth ₹85 trillion.
• The platform helps address issues that cause high economic costs due to delays in public infrastructure.

Challenges in Infrastructure Projects

• Cost overruns in centrally funded projects increased by 22.2%, raising revised costs to ₹29.55 trillion with absolute overruns of ₹5.37 trillion across 823 projects.
• Delays lock public capital, delay economic returns, and weaken the growth impact of infrastructure spending.

Root Causes of Delays

• Land acquisition accounts for around 35% of project delays.
• Environmental clearances cause about 20% of delays.
• Right-of-way issues, shifting utilities, and inter-ministerial disputes further contribute to delays.
• Coordination failures between the Centre and states, among ministries, and among regulators and executing agencies are core issues.

PRAGATI's Approach and Tools

• Utilizes real-time data, drone imagery, and video-conferencing for oversight and coordination.
• Works in conjunction with other digital platforms like PM Gati Shakti and PARIVESH for overall project management efficiency.
• Ensures follow-ups through the Project Monitoring Group (PMG).

Next Steps and Recommendations

• Institutionalize mechanisms beyond reviews for routine faster decision-making.
• Promote deeper state ownership and enhance digital capacity at district and departmental levels.
• Ensure stricter sequencing of approvals with prior environmental clearances via PARIVESH.
• Broaden the mandate to assess real outcomes of infrastructure projects.
• Support local agencies with funding and capacity for maintaining infrastructure.

Conclusion

To capitalize on increased government capital expenditure, timely project completion is essential to avoid higher borrowing and overall costs.