Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sharp dissatisfaction with senior civil servants during a high-level administrative review session, directing pointed criticism at the quality and execution standards of national infrastructure initiatives. Chairing the regular monthly Pragati meeting on Tuesday, the prime minister addressed top bureaucratic leadership to convey that subpar standards and delays in public works cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.
During the session, the prime minister evaluated six major infrastructure developments encompassing the railway, highway, and power sectors. These undertakings stretch across nine distinct states and represent a combined financial commitment exceeding 30,000 crore rupees. Addressing the gathered secretaries, he questioned whether the administration required an additional layer of external oversight, mockingly asking if a fourth-party audit would be necessary to ensure basic competence and accountability in public construction.
Modi emphasized that transportation and energy networks must be evaluated and supervised as unified, comprehensive systems rather than fragmented components. He instructed officials to abandon the practice of reviewing projects by isolated stretches, individual packages, or disconnected segments. According to the prime minister, a holistic approach is essential to guarantee seamless connectivity and operational efficiency across the country.
The Pragati platform, which stands for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, serves as a comprehensive digital mechanism designed to review and monitor delayed or stalled central and state government projects. Since its inception, the monthly interactions have functioned as a direct channel for the nation's chief executive to hold senior bureaucrats accountable for bureaucratic bottlenecks and substandard execution. Tuesday's strong rebuke underscores a continuing push by the administration to tighten oversight on public spending and accelerate the delivery of critical developmental assets.
Reporting based on coverage first published by The Times of India. Read the original report at The Times of India.
