Review of Mega Infrastructure Projects | Jharkhand | 25 Feb 2025

Why in News? 

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) secretary led a high-level meeting to review key issues affecting mega infrastructure projects in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Delhi, and Jharkhand. 

 Key Points 

• Review of Key Infrastructure Projects: 
  • The meeting reviewed 21 issues across 17 significant projects, including 9 projects under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. 
  • The total cost of all projects exceeded Rs 13,501 crore. 
  • The Varanasi-Ranchi-Kolkata Expressway project, valued at Rs 9,623.72 crore, was a major focus. This project involved seven issues across six packages. 
• Focus on New NITs in Strategic Locations: 
  • The meeting emphasized the government's plan to establish new National Institutes of Technology (NITs) in strategic locations. 
  • These NITs aim to bridge regional disparities in technical education and meet the rising demand for skilled engineers and technical professionals. 
  • Beyond academics, these institutions will drive regional economic growth by fostering innovation, research, and industry collaboration. 
• Varanasi-Ranchi-Kolkata Expressway Project: 
  • This expressway is a key project under the Bharat Mala Yojana, enhancing regional connectivity across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. 
  • It is expected to boost trade and freight movement, benefiting industries that rely on the Kolkata and Haldia ports for maritime trade. 
• Commitment to Efficient Project Monitoring: 
  • The Secretary reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the institutional framework for project monitoring. 
  • He directed authorities to adopt a proactive approach in resolving pending project issues. 
  • He urged private proponents to utilize the Project Monitoring Group (PMG) mechanism (PMG Portal) for expedited project implementation. 
  • The PMG mechanism ensures efficient and timely resolution of concerns through collaboration among the Central Government, State Authorities, and Private Stakeholders.