Jammu January 5 (KNS): Chief Secretary, Jammu & Kashmir, Atal Dulloo, highlighted the pivotal role of the ICT-enabled multi-modal platform, PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) in accelerating infrastructure development and improving governance outcomes in the Union Territory. He was addressing a press conference organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Jammu in collaboration with the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) here today.
Atal Dulloo stated that PRAGATI has emerged as a major coordination mechanism of the Government of India for monitoring large infrastructure projects, flagship schemes and public grievance redressal, with projects being reviewed in real time every month by the Prime Minister.
He noted that world-class infrastructure is being developed in Jammu & Kashmir across sectors such as all-weather roads, power, health, industry, education and digital connectivity. He emphasised that timely completion of large projects requires close coordination among the Central Government, the UT Administration and implementing agencies. The J&K Government, he said, plays a critical role in facilitating land acquisition, environmental clearances, utility shifting and maintenance of law and order.
Referring to the Project Monitoring Group (PMG) portal, the Chief Secretary said that projects worth 500 crore rupees or more undertaken by the Government of India are monitored through this platform under the Cabinet Secretariat, with active involvement of the concerned Ministries. In Jammu & Kashmir, 61 projects worth 4.12 lakh crore rupees are currently being monitored on the PMG portal, covering connectivity, energy and social infrastructure sectors. Of these, 15 projects worth 69,000 crore rupees have been completed, while 46 projects worth 3.43 lakh crore rupees are under implementation at various stages.
Dulloo further informed that under PRAGATI, 15 high-priority projects worth 1.12 lakh crore rupees in Jammu & Kashmir are being closely monitored by the Prime Minister. So far, 59 issues related to these projects have been discussed, of which 57 issues—around 96 per cent—have been resolved. These issues were primarily related to land acquisition, environmental clearances, financial approvals and construction-related bottlenecks.
Highlighting the tangible impact of PRAGATI, the Chief Secretary stated that six high-priority projects worth 53,000 crore rupees have already been completed or commissioned. These include the Jammu–Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link; resolution of coordination issues in the Kishanganga Hydro Electric Project and its transmission system; clearance of utility shifting issues for AIIMS Jammu; completion of the NH-44 Srinagar–Banihal project; and commissioning of the Alusteng (Srinagar–Drass–Kargil–Khalsi–Leh) Transmission System, which has been handed over to Union Territory of Ladakh.
At present, nine projects worth 59,000 crore rupees are under active monitoring on PRAGATI in Jammu & Kashmir, including the Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway, AIIMS Awantipora, Pakal Dul Hydro Electric Project and the 4G coverage scheme under the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). Out of 29 issues identified in these projects, 27 have already been resolved.
The Chief Secretary observed that the high-resolution rate reflects the effectiveness of PRAGATI’s structured monitoring framework, supported by continuous follow-up at the UT and district levels. He added that apart from large infrastructure projects, PRAGATI also reviews social sector schemes and public grievances, reinforcing its role as a people-centric governance platform.
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Atal Dulloo concluded by stating that at present, 56 schemes and programmes across the country, including those in Jammu & Kashmir, are being reviewed through PRAGATI, with the overarching objective of ensuring timely, efficient and outcome-oriented implementation of development initiatives.
Replying to a media query, the Chief Secretary stated that the pace of execution of several key infrastructure projects in Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a significant acceleration due to the PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) mechanism. He highlighted that flagship projects such as the ambitious Katra–Baramulla railway line, AIIMS Jammu, and the Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Express Corridor have benefited immensely from enhanced inter-departmental coordination, timely resolution of bottlenecks, and continuous monitoring under PRAGATI. He further added that this mechanism has ensured improved decision-making, accountability, and seamless collaboration among various stakeholders, thereby facilitating timely implementation of critical development initiatives in the Union Territory.
In her opening remarks, Director, PIB, Ms. Neha Jalali, highlighted PRAGATI as a powerful illustration of how digital governance can effectively translate intent into tangible and visible outcomes. She stated that PRAGATI is not merely a review platform, but a transformative governance mechanism aimed at breaking bureaucratic inertia, strengthening the Team India approach through enhanced coordination between the Centre and the States, and fostering a culture of time-bound decision-making, accountability and outcome-based monitoring.
Citing the Jammu–Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla (JUSBRL) rail link as a key example, she noted that work on the project began in 1995 but witnessed limited progress for nearly 25 years due to multiple challenges, including difficult terrain, land acquisition issues, forest clearances and security-related constraints. She explained that after the project was reviewed under PRAGATI, critical approvals and statutory clearances were expedited and long-pending bottlenecks were resolved through sustained inter-ministerial and inter-agency coordination.
Jalali further observed that this coordinated and proactive approach ultimately resulted in the completion of the project, enabling operational rail connectivity in the Kashmir Valley and marking a major milestone in the region’s infrastructure development.
The press conference was held against the backdrop of the 50th PRAGATI meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 31, 2025, in New Delhi. During the meeting, the Prime Minister described PRAGATI as an effective model of cooperative federalism, where the Centre and States function as one team and ministries and departments move beyond silos to resolve issues. He noted that since its inception, around 500 Secretaries to the Government of India and Chief Secretaries of States have participated in PRAGATI meetings, and thanked them for their participation, commitment, and ground-level understanding, which have helped PRAGATI evolve from a review mechanism into a genuine problem-solving platform. The Prime Minister said that Viksit Bharat @ 2047 is both a national resolve and a time-bound goal, and that PRAGATI serves as a powerful accelerator in achieving this vision. He further encouraged States to institutionalise similar PRAGATI-like mechanisms, particularly for the social sector, at the level of the Chief Secretary.
Commissioner/Secretary, Information Department, M. Raju; Director, DIPR, Nitish Rajora; and Joint Director, Information, Shri Deepak Dubey were present on the occasion. (KNS)