Modi govt prepares for 75th Independence Day, to keep big-ticket projects ready for showcase

PMO has set a 9 October deadline for infrastructure ministries to send a list of such projects that can be completed on or before 15 August 2022.

File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi | PTI

New Delhi: There are two years left for the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence, but the Narendra Modi government has already begun making plans to showcase infrastructure projects that are in the making and will be ready by then.

To mark the occasion, the government wants to dedicate key projects to the nation on or around 15 August 2022, two years before it completes its second five-year term, senior government officials have told ThePrint.

In a communication to infrastructure and economic ministries last week, the Prime Minister’s Office has requested them to identify and share projects or “deliverables”, which could be dedicated to the nation on or around 15 August 2022.

The letter, seen by ThePrint, has been written by Saurabh Shukla, director in the PMO, and addressed to secretaries and heads of 11 ministries.

“Projects, which are expected to be completed in the second half of 2022 maybe expedited, to the extent possible, so as to advance the completion date on or before August 15, 2022,” the PMO letter says.
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“Likewise, projects, which are expected to be completed in the first half of 2023 may be expedited, to the extent possible, so as to complete the project in 2022 itself,” the letter adds.

The ministries, which include railways, civil aviation, shipping, highways, housing and urban affairs, revenue, commerce, industry, and financial services among others, have been given time until 9 October to share their list with the PMO.

‘Fitting way to celebrate 75th Independence Day’

A senior official in one of the infrastructure ministries, who did not want to be named, told ThePrint, “We have been told to send a list of projects that are scheduled to be completed around that time for the India@75 package. The completed projects will be dedicated to the nation. It’s a fitting way to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence.”

A second official from another infrastructure ministry said it will help ministries to be on their toes and not slip up on timelines.

PM Modi had in the past talked about creating a “New India” by 2022.

It’s not only the PMO that is gearing up for the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence. In October 2018, the federal think-tank Niti Aayog had prepared a vision document ‘Strategy for New India @75’ to make India poverty-free and corruption-free by 2022.

The vision document has identified 41 different areas that require either a sharper focus on implementing the flagship schemes already in place or a new design and initiative to achieve India’s true potential.