PM to hear core panel findings by Oct end

Infrastructure Committee close to finalising recommendations

The committee on infrastructure is expected to start making presentations to the prime minister by the end of October.

The committee, which was entrusted with the task of developing a priority list of infrastructure projects and programmes and remove inter-ministerial bottlenecks, among other things, is close to finalising its recommendations.

"Sectoral presentations will be made, starting mid-October. The list of sectors is expected to be covered by November," said officials in the Planning Commission.

The focus is on rail and highway projects to augment capacity in high density rail and road corridors, modernisation of rail, road and port infrastructure, modernisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports, energy sector projects costing more than Rs 300 crore and ensuring universal availability of broadband services at affordable prices.

Increasing internet penetration and building a reliable, self-sustaining and viable telecom network in rural areas are also on the priority list for the committee.

The committee's main terms of reference were to develop a priority list of projects aimed at augmenting infrastructure capacity, to develop a monitoring mechanism to track the progress of these projects and remove inter-ministerial bottlenecks.

The committee also had the task of addressing issues relating to ensuring the long-term financial viability of service providers in the public and private sectors.

Initiatives needed to develop sustainable revenue models to make public-private partnership feasible were being considered, said officials.

The committee also had to draw a framework to carry out institutional, regulatory and procedural reforms and the initiation of policies, which would ensure time-bound creation of world-class infrastructure to deliver services matching international standards.

Development of structures that maximise the role of public-private partnerships in the field of infrastructure and monitoring the progress of key infrastructure projects to ensure that targets are realised, were part of its brief.

The committee, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, also includes Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Railways Minister Lalu Prasad, Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping TR Baalu, Power Minister PM Sayeed, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Mani Shankar Aiyar, Minister of Communication and IT Dayanidhi Maran and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel.

Kirit Parikh and Anwar-ul-Hoda are also on the committee as members of the Planning Commission. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, is the member-convenor of the committee.

Core issues

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• Modernisation of rail, road, port infrastructure
• Modernisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports
• Rail and road projects to augment capacity in high density corridors-NHDP, NRVNL projects
• Energy sector projects costing more than Rs 300 crore
• Universal availability of broadband services
• Telecom network in rural areas