Bhubaneswar, April 23: The Odisha government has asked all engineering departments to fast-track the development projects by planning them well in advance.

According to official sources, 75 per cent funds allocated in 2011-12 for execution of projects under the housing and urban development department have been utilised so far.

Similarly, water resources and works departments have spent 78 per cent funds during the year. On the other hand, the rural development department has reported more than 80 per cent expenditure.

In this context, these engineering departments have been advised to keep project estimates and detailed reports ready for implementation to avoid delay. They have also been asked to prepare a budgetary allocation that is three times the project cost.

An inter-departmental committee will be constituted to grant administrative approval to the projects in advance so that these can be taken up immediately as and when the funds are available, said a senior government official.

These decisions were taken at a recent meeting chaired by chief secretary Bijay Patnaik to discuss the plans of engineering departments for 2012-13.

Official sources revealed that a budgetary allocation of Rs 860 crore has been made for construction of rural roads, bridges, pipe water supply, rural water supply, and rural sanitation schemes under the rural development department for the current fiscal.

Similarly, funds to the tune of Rs 648 crore have been provided in this year’s budget to take up urban roads, housing, sanitation, sewerage, urban water supply programmes under the housing and urban development department.

The works department has a budgetary allocation of Rs 1,063 crore this year to construct major roads.

The engineering departments were advised by the chief secretary to submit bills against the works done in each month for proper financial management. They were also told to utilise at least 25 per cent budgetary allocation during first quarter of the current fiscal year.

The departments were also instructed to ensure 100 per cent utilisation of funds under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes component.