DPIIT Reviews Key Issues Affecting Rs 10,000+ Cr Infra Projects In Karnataka, Kerala & Telangana

New Delhi, Sep 1 (KNN) The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) held a high-level review meeting on Monday to assess challenges affecting major infrastructure projects in Karnataka, Kerala, and Telangana. 

The meeting, chaired by DPIIT Secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia, brought together senior officials from central ministries, state governments, and project developers, with a focus on fast-tracking issue resolution through the Project Monitoring Group (PMG).

According to DPIIT, five issues across projects worth Rs 3,658 crore were reviewed in Karnataka, two issues involving projects worth Rs 5,002 crore in Kerala, and six issues across projects valued at Rs 1,934 crore in Telangana.

Among the projects discussed was the Trivandrum–Kanyakumari railway line doubling project, spanning Kerala and Tamil Nadu, with an estimated cost of Rs 3,785 crore. 

The initiative aims to double the existing single-track line to reduce travel time, increase train frequency, and ease passenger and freight movement. 

Officials noted that land acquisition, environmental clearances, and localised resistance remain key hurdles, and called for swift resolution to ensure timely execution and unlock the project’s socio-economic benefits, including improved connectivity, reduced road congestion, and enhanced tourism.

The expansion of 5G/4G networks by Reliance Jio also came under review, with discussions in Telangana focusing on pending forest and wildlife clearances. 

The project seeks to extend high-speed mobile coverage to underserved and remote regions while reinforcing existing 4G infrastructure. 

Officials emphasised that the initiative would play a critical role in improving nationwide digital access, particularly in geographically challenging and strategically sensitive areas.

Bhatia stressed the importance of private sector proponents making greater use of the PMG platform to expedite issue resolution through collaboration between the Centre, states, and industry players.

(KNN Bureau)