PM reviews progress in infrastructure sector

New Delhi, Aug 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reviewed the progress of key infrastructure sectors, an official statement said.

The statement said in course of the presentation made by NITI Aayog, it was noted that there has been a phenomenal progress in several key sectors, including renewable energy and the railways.

"In the new and renewable energy sector, the cumulative installed capacity has crossed 44 GigaWatts. Targets have been met for various components, and various projects under Centre and State policies," the statement said.

The Prime Minister was briefed on plans and strategies to further ramp up solar energy production, including through rooftop generation.

In the aviation sector, the Prime Minister reviewed progress made in key policy areas such as safety and connectivity.

"It was noted that eight Indian airports are ranked among the top five globally in their respective categories. The Prime Minister was also briefed on steps being taken to further boost regional connectivity, and further improve customer satisfaction indices at airports," the statement said.

The Indian Railways, meanwhile, has achieved a target of daily passenger movement of 2.25 crore. About 240 unmanned crossings have been eliminated in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. In the power sector, 3.5 crore LED bulbs have been distributed in the same period.

In the ports sector, there has been considerable progress in average vessel turnaround time, while in rural housing sector 6.94 lakh rural houses have been completed in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, as compared to a target of 6 lakh houses.

"Reviewing the progress in the petroleum and natural gas sector, the Prime Minister sought to know the steps being taken to ramp up ethanol blending of petrol. He was informed that over 15 crore households were covered under Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG in FY16," the statement added.

Top officials from various infrastructure ministries, NITI Aayog and the Prime Minister's Office attended the meeting.

IANS