Bhubaneswar: Ahead of his Odisha visit on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday reviewed the progress of projects under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (Amrut), public distribution system and railway projects.
Official sources said the Prime Minister took up the review through video-conferencing with chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi.
Padhi informed Modi that nine urban areas of the state, including Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, were being covered under the Amrut scheme. So far, 193 projects had been sanctioned, out of which 27 projects had been completed. Tender process had been finalised and work order had been issued for 167 projects, while tenders had been floated for remaining 26 projects. A target was set at the meeting to complete 59 projects by June end.
An outlay of Rs 1,599 crore has been made for the 193 projects sanctioned under Amrut scheme.
Padhi also told Modi that more than 86.81 lakh poor families had been covered under the national food security scheme. Hundred per cent digitisation had been achieved in issuance of ration cards and the public distribution system had been fully computerised. Ninety three per cent ration cards had been linked to Aadhar cards as well. Point of sale (POS) machines had been introduced in 12,483 PDS retail outlets.
The issue of direct procurement of paddy from the farmers for conversion into PDS rice was also discussed. Modi was informed that cashless payment of Rs 7,500 crore was being made every year through farmers' bank accounts under the paddy procurement scheme. However, problem in cashless transaction was being encountered at many places due to lack of internet connectivity, Padhi informed Modi.
Besides, construction of third and fourth rail lines between Budhapanka and Salagaon in Keonjhar district also came up for the review.
Secretaries of food services and consumer welfare, commerce and transport, revenue and disaster management and housing and urban development were also present at the review.