Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked for exploring new technologies for boosting road construction and coal production in a review meeting on infrastructure held on Tuesday.
“The Prime Minister directed the use of new technologies in road construction also. He asked NITI Aayog to examine global standards in the application of technology for infrastructure creation, and their feasibility in India,” an official statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister took the review meeting of infrastructure sectors including roads, railways, airports, ports, digital, and coal with PMO, NITI Aayog and all infrastructure ministry officials for about four-and-a-half-hours, the statement added.
Noting the decline in coal imports last year, the Prime Minister asked for “even more vigorous efforts towards coal import substitution, and application of new coal technologies including gasification technology.” Coal import declined 27.5% in April-December 2016 compared to the previous year.
Mr. Modi emphasised for the use of space technology for “efficient and stringent” monitoring of rural roads construction and their quality. In 2016-17, the highest ever average daily construction rate of 130 km rural roads was achieved under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, the meeting was informed.
. Around 4,000 km rural roads were constructed using green technology in 2016-17.
In the railway sector, the Prime Minister asked for speedy work on redevelopment of railway stations and “and greater creativity in the generation of non-fare revenue”. In July 2015, the Union Cabinet had approved redeveloping 400 railway stations on ‘as is where is’ basis by inviting open bids from private sector developers. However, the Railway Ministry has so far identified 23 railway stations in the first phase for redevelopment out of which bids for 21 stations have been invited till March this year.
In the shipping sector, Mr. Modi stressed for better outcomes on improving turnaround time of ships and clearance for Exim cargo.
