Kolkata, Oct 30 (PTI) In a bid to speed up implementation of central projects in West Bengal, the state government

Kolkata, Oct 30 (PTI) In a bid to speed up implementation of central projects in West Bengal, the state government

Kolkata, Oct 30 (PTI) In a bid to speed up implementation of central projects in West Bengal, the state government

Kolkata, Oct 30 (PTI) In a bid to speed up implementation of central projects in West Bengal, the state government on Friday directed senior bureaucrats to visit New Delhi at least once a month and meet ministry officials to resolve pending issues, a senior official said.

    The directive from West Bengal secretariat 'Nabanna' is aimed at improving coordination between the Centre and the state, particularly for projects facing delays over administrative approvals, fund releases and technical clearances, he said.

    "The chief minister has made it clear that coordination with the Centre cannot be limited to sending letters and emails. If a project is facing hurdles, the officials concerned must take it up directly with the Union ministry and work towards resolving the issue. The responsibility does not end with sending a proposal; officials must follow it up until the project moves forward," he told PTI.

    Departmental secretaries have been asked to take up project-related issues directly with the central ministries concerned instead of relying solely on correspondence, the state government official said.

    "They will also review the progress of ongoing projects and pursue cases where approvals or financial assistance are pending," he said.

    The CM has also stressed the need for direct engagement between officials of the state and the Centre to ensure that development projects do not remain stalled because of procedural delays, he said.

    The West Bengal government has identified delays in approvals, fund allocation and technical sanctions as some of the key issues affecting the progress of centrally sponsored schemes and other projects involving central agencies, the official stated.

    "Our government also wants departments to maintain closer oversight of projects after proposals are submitted to the Centre. This will ensure that pending matters are regularly followed up and necessary clearances obtained," he said.

    The monthly visits are expected to provide a direct channel of communication between state and central officials, and help expedite decisions on projects requiring coordination, the official added.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)