Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the progress of nine vital infrastructure projects worth over Rs 56,000 crore in his twenty-first interaction through PRAGATI - the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation.

The projects reviewed today, include the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor, and construction of four new AIIMS at Manglagiri in Andhra Pradesh, Kalyani in West Bengal, Nagpur in Maharashtra, and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.

His review covered railway, road, power and oil pipeline and health sectors, spread over Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Punjab, West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Telangana, and Kerala.

PM Modi also reviewed the progress of the Smart Cities Mission. He said the challenge before everyone is now to ensure implementation and expeditious completion of the work in the 90 identified cities, with high quality.

The review also focused on the progress towards handling and resolution of grievances related to patents and trademarks. The PM noted the improvement in performance, asked the concerned officers to work towards further expediting the processing of patent and trademark applications. Officials explained the steps taken towards speeding up the grant of patents and trademarks, including enhanced manpower.

While reviewing the progress of the Forest Rights Act, Modi emphasized the importance of using space technology to determine the rights of tribal communities, and settle claims expeditiously.

The Prime Minister also said that the apprehensions with regard to GST have been proven to be unfounded, and a smooth transition has happened. He asked all Chief Secretaries to further boost efforts to increase registration under GST, and to achieve a quantum jump in this regard within a month. On the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), he said the portal has improved transparency, and has reduced wasteful expenditure. He asked the Chief Secretaries of all States to give priority to GeM in government procurements.

An official statement said that the first twenty meetings of PRAGATI have seen a cumulative review of 183 projects with a total investment of Rs. 8.79 lakh crore. Resolution of Public Grievances has also been reviewed in 17 sectors.