PM Modi accelerates infrastructure completion with PRAGATI study from Oxford and Gates Foundation

A study by Sad Business School, University of Oxford and the Gates Foundation highlights how India's digital governance platform, PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation), has transformed the country's infrastructure development landscape . The study notes that the platform, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, fostered accountability, facilitated federal and regional collaboration and accelerated the completion of long-delayed projects worth a staggering $205 billion.

Key findings: overcoming decades of delays

PRAGATI has been instrumental in resolving decades-long delays in over 340 infrastructure projects across India. The study, titled From Gridlock to Growth: How Leadership Enables Indias PRAGATI Ecosystem to Power Progress, notes that many of these projects have been delayed by up to 20 years. Some projects had already completed physical works but were stuck in the final stages, while others had seen no progress in construction.

PRAGATI has a digital dashboard for real-time project monitoring and facilitates review meetings through video conferencing chaired by PM Modi. According to the study, these reviews helped streamline decision-making, cut red tape and ensure projects were completed quickly. The success of the platform has significantly reduced project delays, reducing timelines from decades to just months, he said.

The impact of PRAGATI: strengthening leadership and stimulating collaboration

A notable aspect of PRAGATI is the direct involvement of India's top leaders in monitoring infrastructure projects. Prime Minister Modi's personal accountability and regular oversight provided an essential level of governance, ensuring that projects did not languish due to bureaucracy or lack of political will, the study found. The platform has facilitated unprecedented levels of cooperation between central and state authorities, ensuring that both levels of government work together to overcome obstacles and accelerate projects, it adds.

PRAGATI: A game-changer in governance

According to Soumitra Dutta, Dean of Peter Moores and Professor of Management at Oxford Sad, PRAGATI offers developing countries a unique opportunity to revolutionize their approaches to infrastructure development. He said: “Building on PRAGATI’s experiences, other developing countries also have a valuable opportunity to revolutionize their approach to infrastructure development. » Dutta highlighted that PRAGATI's success lies in its ability to foster collaboration among various stakeholders and leverage technology for real-time monitoring and accountability.

Cultivate an environment of leadership and accountability

Professor Dutta highlighted the importance of high-level leadership in the use of technology to drive cross-collaboration and maintain regular reviews of infrastructure projects. “PRAGATI shows us that it is essential for nations to cultivate an environment in which senior leaders use technology to drive cross-collaboration and regular reviews of accountabilities,” he explained.

Key findings revealed at IIM Bengaluru symposium

The findings were revealed today at a symposium organized by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bengaluru, which brought together experts from academia, government and the private sector to discuss the transformative potential of digital governance in infrastructure development.

Notable projects accelerated by PRAGATI

Several key infrastructure projects have benefited from PRAGATI's intervention, including:

Chenab Bridge (Jammu and Kashmir): Once blocked for a decade, this bridge is now the highest railway bridge in the world. It is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway link, which connects Kashmir to the rest of India by rail. According to the new study, the review of PRAGATI platforms helped accelerate the construction of the bridges, ensuring that they become a vital socio-political and economic link.

The Bogibeel Bridge (Assam): This crucial bridge over the Brahmaputra River faced more than a decade of delay before being included in the PRAGATI review process in 2015. The intervention prompted regular site visits and cooperation between central and state ministries, enabling the completion of the bridges in 2018, significantly improving the connectivity of the Dhemaji region.

The Jal Jeevan Mission (Nationwide): Aimed at providing a piped water connection to every rural household in India, this ambitious initiative has made significant progress thanks to PRAGATI's monitoring. A review carried out in 2021 led to a 20% increase in tap connections in areas where water is scarce over six months. From just 17% of Indian households having running water in 2019, this figure has risen to 79% by November 2024, the study notes.