Excelsior Correspondent
04JAMMU, Dec 3: A new case study by Oxford’s said Business School, being released at IIM Bangalore today, revealed how India’s PRAGATI platform is transforming the way large infrastructure and social development projects are implemented.
The research, conducted with support from the Gates Foundation, documents how this digital governance innovation has helped accelerate 340 projects worth $205 billion.
Since its launch in 2015, PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) has helped accelerate 340 projects worth $205 billion. The platform has supported unprecedented infrastructure development, including 50,000 kilometers of new National Highways and a doubling of airports. For every rupee spent on infrastructure, studies show a 2.5 to 3.5-rupee gain in GDP.
At PRAGATI’s core is Prime Minister Modi’s direct involvement through video conference meetings, typically held once a month, with state Chief Secretaries and Central Ministry officials. This hands-on leadership, combined with digital monitoring tools, has created a new culture of accountability. The Prime Minister’s active engagement in reviewing specific projects helps break bureaucratic deadlocks and accelerate implementation.
PRAGATI has emerged as India’s primary problem-solver for infrastructure bottlenecks. The platform’s mere existence catalyzes resolution – officials often solve problems before they reach the Prime Minister’s review. For projects that do come up for review, PRAGATI’s integrated approach helps break long-standing deadlocks in areas such as land acquisition and environmental clearances.
PRAGATI operates within a broader ecosystem including PM Gati Shakti for infrastructure planning and PARIVESH for environmental clearances. This integration has dramatically reduced approval timelines – environmental clearances that once took 600 days can now be obtained in 70-75 days. The ecosystem uses sophisticated tools including drone monitoring and GIS-based mapping.
The platform’s impact extends beyond infrastructure to accelerating social development programs. Under PRAGATI’s oversight, rural households with tap water connections increased from 17 percent to 79 percent in five years. The platform has also helped reduce Government response time to citizen grievances from 32 to 20 days and supported initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Mission.
The research suggests PRAGATI’s approach could help other countries in the global south overcome similar infrastructure and governance challenges.
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