New Delhi: Chairing a Pragati meeting on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi instructed housing and urban affairs ministry officials to first identify 50 cities and achieve 100% cleanliness in them across all aspects, from making them garbage free to processing all their solid and liquid waste. Times of India has learnt that Modi suggested the ministry and state governments collaborate to demonstrate these as examples while continuing their efforts to make cities cleaner. The ministry made a detailed presentation on the progress of Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0.
Focus on Measurable Outcomes
In an official statement, the Prime Minister's Office said that Modi emphasized the need for effective implementation of the mission while underlining that it should move beyond infrastructure creation and ensure measurable outcomes through regular monitoring, citizen participation, and convergence among various stakeholders.
Review of Railway Projects
Officials said that while reviewing progress of railway projects, Modi expressed his unhappiness over delays in their implementation due to identification of issues at a later stage, and also over delay in release of compensation. An official quoted the PM as asking, "Why should responsibility not be fixed in such cases as delay in project execution due to any avoidable reason resulting in cost escalation and time overrun?"
Port-Led Development Model
Reviewing a road and port connectivity project for Vadhavan port in Maharashtra, the PM said it should be executed as a model of port-led, multi-modal development, where every major mode of transport is seamlessly integrated to create a future-ready logistics ecosystem. Another official revealed that Modi suggested the shipping ministry transport materials for development of the greenfield port rather than waiting for the road link to be completed.
Accelerating Rooftop Solar Adoption
While reviewing a power sector project, Modi emphasized the need to accelerate rooftop solar adoption across urban areas, particularly in residential clusters and public institutions. The PMO stated that "he underlined that rooftop solar should be taken up in mission mode to reduce electricity costs, improve energy security, and promote clean energy at the household and community level."
Innovative Use of Canal Networks
The PM also stressed innovative use of canal networks, including installation of solar panels along canals and over canals for clean electricity generation. The government noted that "this would help optimise land use, reduce evaporation losses, generate renewable energy, and create additional economic value from water infrastructure."
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