An Oxford University study has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and the PRAGATI platform for driving the progress of 340 crucial infrastructure projects in India, valued at $205 billion. These projects, some pending for decades, have seen significant acceleration due to this initiative. The study, co-authored by Soumitra Dutta and Mukul Pandya from Saïd Business School, credits Modi’s direct involvement as a pivotal factor.
Since its inception nine years ago, PRAGATI has streamlined India’s infrastructure landscape. By June 2023, projects worth $205 billion had undergone the PRAGATI review process. Modi highlighted on X how PRAGATI combines governance with technology, removing obstacles and ensuring timely completion.
Key infrastructure projects benefiting from PRAGATI include the Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link, Bengaluru Metro, and Navi Mumbai Airport. For instance, the Bogibeel Rail and Road Bridge in Assam, conceptualized in 1985 and delayed for years, was expedited and opened in 2018. Similarly, the Jammu-Kashmir rail link, featuring the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River, saw progress after years of stagnation and is set for completion in 2025.
In Odisha, the Haridaspur-Paradeep Rail project faced funding delays until PRAGATI resolved administrative roadblocks, leading to its completion in 2020. The expansion of National Highway 8 and the Varanasi-Aurangabad section of NH 2 also advanced under PRAGATI’s intervention, overcoming land acquisition challenges.
The Navi Mumbai Airport project, stalled due to land disputes, gained momentum through PRAGATI reviews and is expected to be operational by December 2024. Projects like Jharkhand’s North Karanpura Thermal Power Plant also illustrate PRAGATI’s role in addressing bottlenecks and facilitating timely execution.
This comprehensive initiative underscores the transformative power of leadership and technology in infrastructure development, showcasing India’s progress through strategic governance.
