Itanagar, Jul 16: Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein has directed all executing agencies and district administrations to expedite the implementation of major centrally funded development projects, stressing timely completion, transparency and stronger inter-departmental coordination.
Chairing a high-level review meeting at the Civil Secretariat here on Thursday, Mein assessed the physical and financial progress of projects under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS), Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DeVINE) and the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) Phases I and II.
The meeting, attended by heads of executing agencies, Deputy Commissioners through video conferencing and senior officials from various departments, reviewed projects implementation, fund utilization, inter-departmental coordination, and measures to ensure timely completion of development works across the state.
Addressing the meeting, Mein said infrastructure development remains central to the government's vision of inclusive and sustainable growth. He directed all executing agencies and district administrations to strengthen monitoring mechanisms, adhere to project timelines, and maintain high standards of quality, transparency and accountability.
Highlighting the importance of the Vibrant Villages Programme, he said the Centre's vision is to transform border villages into engines of growth by treating them as the nation's "first villages." He asked Deputy Commissioners to prioritise projects in frontier areas and ensure their effective and time-bound implementation with the active involvement of elected local representatives.
The Deputy Chief Minister also instructed districts to expedite projects that are yet to commence, noting that timely utilisation of funds is essential for securing subsequent instalments from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Reiterating the importance of coordination among departments and district administrations, he said all development projects must be completed within stipulated timelines so that their benefits reach the people without delay.
To improve project monitoring, the Planning Department directed Deputy Commissioners to regularly update the VVP portal, upload utilisation certificates and geo-tagged photographs on time, and promptly address queries on reverted proposals.
It also instructed that all project proposals must comply with the operational guidelines and funding norms of the respective Central schemes and undergo technical vetting and administrative approval before submission.
The meeting also reviewed challenges such as frequent portal updates, data duplication, geo-tagging limitations and poor internet connectivity in remote areas. District administrations were advised to coordinate closely with the Ministry of Home Affairs' technical team to resolve such issues.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mein also reviewed the implementation status of Budget Announcements for 2026-27 across various departments and directed departments to fast-track flagship initiatives, including the Chief Minister’s Rural Development Programme and the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Power Development Programme.
He also called for greater focus on critical sectors including education, healthcare, drinking water supply, connectivity and skill development, while asking departments to maintain close coordination with the Planning Department for smooth implementation of priority projects.
The review meetings were attended by Planning Commissioner Sonam Chombay, Advisor to the Deputy Chief Minister Anupam Tangu, Adviser to the Planning and Investment Department RK Sharma and other senior officials.