Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called upon states to “speed up capital expenditure and infrastructure creation” to spur economic growth.

Addressing the third meeting of the Governing Council of Niti Aayog, Modi also said the think-tank's long, medium and short term action plans would benefit all the states.

“Niti Aayog is working on a 15-year long term vision, seven-year medium term strategy, and three-year action agenda,” he told the meeting, which was attended by chief ministers, union ministers and senior officials.

The prime minister further said the vision of 'New India' can only be realised through the combined efforts and cooperation of all the states.

“Team India” has assembled here to discuss and reflect on ways to prepare the country for changing global trends, Modi said.

It is the collective responsibility of this gathering to envision the India of 2022 – the 75th anniversary of Independence – and see how the nation can swiftly move forward to achieve these goals, he added.

Observing that Niti Aayog has been taking steps to transform India, the prime minister asked the government, private sector and civil society to work in sync to promote development.

The Aayog, he said, is a collaborative federal body whose strength is in its ideas, rather than in administrative or financial control.

Noting that the chief ministers need not come to Niti for approval of budgets or plans, he said the body had gone beyond relying on government inputs and taken on board a number of outside specialists, experts and young professionals.

The states too can contribute to policy formulation, he added.

Modi noted that while there has been a 40 per cent increase in overall fund allocation to states between 2014-15 and 2016-17, the percentage of funds tied to Central schemes has declined from 40 per cent to 25 per cent.
States need “to speed up capital expenditure and infrastructure creation,” he said.

Stating that poor infrastructure in the country is hampering economic development, Modi said more expenditure on basic infrastructure such as roads, ports, power and rail would help in accelerating the pace of growth.

Referring to the change in budget presentation date, the prime minister said the move enables timely availability of funds at the beginning of the financial year.

“Earlier, budgeted scheme funds were generally not approved by Parliament till May, after which they would be communicated to states and ministries. By that time, the monsoon arrived. Hence, the best working season for schemes was typically lost,” he added.

He said the decision to end the distinction between plan and non-plan expenditure was based on the recommendation of the Rangarajan Committee in 2011.

Now “the emphasis would be on distinguishing between development and welfare expenditure on one hand, and administrative overheads on the other,” Modi said.

Talking about the Goods and Services Tax (GST), he said the consensus on the new indirect tax regime will go down in history as a great illustration of cooperative federalism.

“GST reflects the spirit of 'One nation, One aspiration, One determination',” he added.

He also called for carrying forward the debate and discussion on simultaneous Central and state elections.

The meeting at the Rashtrapati Bhavan is being attended by several chief ministers, including from non-BJP ruled states like Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Bihar's Nitish Kumar, Tripura's Manik Sarkar and Karnataka's Siddaramaiah.

The council, which is the apex body of the Niti Aayog, is headed by the Prime Minister and includes all chief ministers and the think-tank's members.

Tata Cleantech Capital (TCCL) is looking at growing its asset book to around Rs.5,500 crore by fiscal 2019, with nearly $120 billion debt funds expected to flow into the renewable energy space in the next five years.

TCCL, a joint venture between Tata Capital and International Finance Corporation, currently has an asset/loan book size of Rs.2,400 crore.

It has funded over 80 renewable energy projects, including wind, solar and small hydro and biomass, with a total capacity of 3,500 MW.

“We are largely focused on funding clean energy projects and the government's vision of 175 GW of renewable power capacity by 2022 gives us an immense opportunity.

“It is estimated that $120 billion of debt fund will be required for these projects and this gives us the hope that we will be able to increase our exposure to nearly Rs.5,500 crore by FY19,” the company's Chief Executive Manish Chourasia told PTI here.

He said for the current fiscal, the company is expecting to nearly double its loan book to Rs.4,000 crore.

“Our primary focus is to fund similar quality renewable assets and we expect to participate in the funding of around 10,000 MW generation capacity over next 2-3 years,” Chourasia said.

He said though in the current portfolio of renewable energy projects wind-based generation has a larger share, going forward solar (both ground mounted and rooftop) will grow considering the number of projects being undertaken under various schemes of state and Central governments.

Recently, TCCL funded a 450 kW solar rooftop project set up by Avesta Solar at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in the megapolis. TCCL disbursed a total of Rs.2.36 crore for this project.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan had to reshoot some scenes of filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma's upcoming movie Sarkar 3. The cine icon says he will share the reason behind it soon.

"Reshoot in progress. After long hours of debate and discussion Ram Gopal Varma (RGV) and I decided to change the look of Sarkar 3. Just kidding," Big B tweeted late on Saturday night. 

The actor also shared some photographs from the set, in which he is seen sitting on a bench with an intense look. 

In another, the actor is seen having a conversation with Varma. 

Amitabh also tweeted: "You shall be hearing of this pretty soon!" 

Presented by Eros International and produced by Allumbra Entertainment, Wave Cinemas and AB Corp, Sarkar 3 is the third film in Varma's Sarkar series.

Sarkar, which released in 2005, is set in the world of Indian politics. Its sequel Sarkar Raj hit the screens in 2008.

Sarkar 3 will see Amitabh reprising his role as Subhash Nagre. The film will also feature Yami Gautam, Jackie Shroff, Manoj Bajpayee, Amit Sadh, Rohini Hattangadi, Ronit Roy and Bharat Dabholkar. 

Amitabh also stressed the importance of documenting the process of filmmaking for "posterity of the largest film industry in the world".

In a post on his official blog, the Piku star said: "It is rare to just sit in an environment of cinema, and talk about cinema and its craft. A documentation that has such immense importance and one that the industry has never done." 

"I do hope someday someone shall start this process…not just for their personal self but for the posterity of the largest film industry in the world."

High Court has sought the government's reply on a plea seeking capping of airfares across the country so that flyers are not fleeced by airlines.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Anu Malhotra issued notice to the Civil Aviation Ministry and sought their response after it was informed that the government has failed to comply with its earlier direction asking them to decide the issue.

The court fixed the matter for further consideration on September 15.

The counsel for the central government submitted before the court that airfares was beyond the control of the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

The court had on July 20 last year disposed the plea with direction to the ministry to consider the issues raised before it and pass an appropriate order in accordance with law within eight weeks.

The PIL filed through advocate Amit Sahni has urged the court to direct the authorities to frame “guidelines so as to put a cap on airfares and prevent the private airlines from charging arbitrarily, irrationally and exorbitantly for air flights.”

The advocate has stated that he had filed an RTI application seeking information regarding airfares and the ministry had replied that these were not controlled by the government.
Citing the Jat agitation in Haryana last year, the plea has said if there would have been a cap, the airlines could not have charged huge amounts.

“The private airlines companies have fleeced people even in emergent situations and the government has stood as a mute spectator,” the plea has said, adding there was an “urgent need to regulate the upper limit of airfares so that the private airlines cannot fleece their customers as per their own wish.”

Capping of airfares in the backdrop of passengers' complaints of arbitrary tariff hikes was recently ruled out by the government which had said competition among airlines would take care of the problem.

The ministry had said restricting the airfares will not make good business sense as it could also jeopardise the government's regional connectivity plan, as such a move may discourage airlines from flying on non-profitable routes.

In his plea, the counsel said “it is totally unfair on the part of respondents (Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Director General of Civil Aviation) to state that they cannot regulate the airfare, thereby leaving the entire decision upon private companies to decide airfare as per their on wish.”

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is trying to increase its capacity to deliver by scaling up the frequency of launches to 12 per year from the seven at present by building more satellites and lowering the cost of access to space.
“Earlier, we were doing 2-3 (launches) per year, then we increased it to 4-5, last few years we have been doing seven launches,” space agency Chairman A S Kiran Kumar told PTI.

“Now, we are trying to go up to 8-9 PSLV per year, two GSLV-Mk II and one GSLV-Mk III. Total about 12 per year,” he said.

ISRO is trying to increase its capacity to deliver by scaling up the frequency of launches by building more satellites, lowering the cost of access to space and also to do heavier satellite launches, the Chairman said.

The space agency is in the process of constructing a second vehicle assembly building to improve the turnaround time and throughput for the PSLV so that with the same launch pad ISRO can do more launches, he said.

Kiran Kumar said approval for a proposal to build a space station was yet to come.

ISRO plans to undertake the Chandrayaan-2 mission in the first quarter of the next calendar year, he said.

“It (Chandrayaan-2) is a fully Indian affair. There is no Russian participation in that,” Kiran Kumar said.
“All the developments required for that, all the variable thrust engines, lander, rover….all that work is going on and we are getting ready for this launch,” he said.
“Another Mars mission, Venus mission or Asteroids mission…all these possibilities we are working on; study teams are looking at it, and then we will finalise at some point of time and start getting approvals for them,” he said.
On reusable launch vehicle, he said ISRO has identified its next steps in terms of air-breathing propulsion system.
“We are now trying to do an experiment where it will demonstrate that the thrust generated is more than the friction so that you have a net positive thrust.
“What we have (already) demonstrated is combustion happening with oxygen and hydrogen. The next step is the thrust whatever is generated should be more than the friction that's going to come up because of the surfaces involved,” Kiran Kumar explained.
“Once that is done, then it's a big capability. So we are working towards that now and in terms of reusable launch vehicle I think landing gear system to that and conducting some experiments that is the next step and beyond that we are looking to scale up the model and do the next set of activities,” he said.

In an effort to stop poaching, the state forest department is conducting a sensitisation campaign among villagers about protecting birds frequenting water bodies in their neighbourhoods.

“Forest department personnel of the Wildlife wing have met the Panchayat Pradhan at Kadamtala area in Rajarhat and villagers and discussed ways to stop poaching of birds in the local water bodies,” Range Officer Ullas Nath told PTI here on April 22.

“The Panchayat members told us that no locals were involved in such act and this may be the job of outsiders. We have asked them to be more vigilant from now on,” Nath said adding that the campaign would be a year-long exercise involving all stakeholders.

He said the birds, hunted by the poachers, included sandpipers, open-billed stork and mostly small birds.

Honorary Wildlife Warden Suchandra Kundu said, “The campaign is a continuing process involving locals to save the endangered avian species who are integral to the rich bio-diversity.”

She said that improvised bird catching nets set across vast water bodies as well as poisoned bait to lure fish eating birds in Rajarhat-New Town belt were confiscated last week after a raid by forest personnel.

“None could be arrested but we believe the poachers have sold the bird meat to nearby hotels and restaurants and hence there is need to sensitise villagers about protecting the winged species,” she said.

About 35 different species of birds flock to the area, according to a study.

“Under the schedule of Wildlife Act, catching and killing of a bird is an offence,” she said adding that people should identify the poachers.

About the situation in other water bodies, frequented by migratory birds, she said, “We regularly conduct raids across the state based on our own feedback from sources including media but we need to involve locals to make any drive successful.”

Nath said no report of poaching has been received from another large water body in Santragachi near Kolkata, which is frequented by migratory birds during winter.

Joydip Kundu, a Member of the state Wildife Advisory Board, said, “We need to make people aware to protect the birds from poaching.”

The elections of Rajasthan Cricket Association slated for April 26 have been stalled on the ground that the provisions of the state Sports Act do not conform with the recommendations of Lodha Committee under the aegis of which these polls were scheduled to take place.

The Election Officer AK Pandey called off the elections late on Sunday night, saying since the Registrar of Co-operative Society has refused to ratify the amendments in the Constitution of RCA, all poll-related proceedings would be stopped.

Pandey claimed that the RCA has told him to suspend the elections. He did not give any future date for the polls.

Crying foul of the decision, the Joshi faction said that they would mull over the options, including moving the court.

“With former president C P Joshi all set to file his nomination and with the majority with us, it (the calling off of the elections) has been done under a sinister plan. They knew Ruchir Modi (Lalit Modi's son) was going to lose so they saved him by taking this unexpected course.

“It was RCA officials who about two months back in a special General Body Meeting adopted the amendments and they also knew about the recommendations of the Lodha Committee. Why did not they act in time? Moreover, the Registrar also did not act till so late. Both RCA and the Registrar are working hands in glove, said a member of the Joshi faction.

“We are not going remain sitting idle. We're in majority. Once the elections are declared and process is rolled on, it can't be stopped. It has to be completed. We would move court and may also call an emergency General Body Meeting and take further action,” he said.

The RCA is currently headed by former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi who is in exile and lives in London following charges of money laundering by the Enforcement Directorate.

His 22-year-old son Ruchir has made entry into the RCA by winning a controversial election of Alwar District Cricket Association and he is running for the post of president. To make him eligible for the post of president, some amendments in the RCA Constitution were adopted by the AGM recently.

The Registrar has, however, not ratified these amendments and has sent back to the RCA to reconsider them.

A few more provisions of the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha Committee, like the appointment of an Ombudsman and age cap of 70 years for fighting elections, were not in accord with the Sports Act prevailing in the state.

When Lalit Modi became the RCA president, the association was banned by the BCCI as the former IPL boss is currently under a life ban. Team Rajasthan played all domestic cricket for last two seasons under the aegis of BCCI.

Erin Moran, best known for her role as Joanie Cunningham on the American sitcom Happy Days has died. She was 56.

Officers in Harrison county in the Indiana state responded to reports of an unresponsive female in Corydon, Indiana, on Saturday afternoon, reports people.com.

First responders determined that the woman, identified as Moran, had died. An autopsy is pending.

Moran most famously played Cunningham, the younger sister to Richie Cunningham (played by Ron Howard) on "Happy Days", which ran from 1974 to 1984. 

She also starred in the spin-off, "Joanie Loves Chachi" from 1982 to 1983, which followed her character's romance with Chachi, played by Scott Baio.

Howard shared his sadness about the news, tweeting: "RIP Erin. I'll always choose to remember you on our show making scenes better, getting laughs and lighting up TV screens."

Moran also appeared on The Love Boat, Murder She Wrote and The Bold and the Beautiful.

Director Gauri Shinde says she is critical of her own work and feels she could have done a better job with her last film Dear Zindagi.
"You always feel that the film could have been better. I am my own critic. After there is a long gap in the film I look back and always feel I want to make certain changes. I keep regretting that there is one deleted scene, I wish I had added it in Dear Zindagi," Gauri told PTI.
"There is a deleted scene of aircraft that is out on Youtube, I wished I had kept it but then there was an issue of time so we couldn't keep it. It was a hard call to take. But there are certain things right for that moment," she says.
Gauri is a bit nervous and and also excited as the movie is now all set for the world television premiere today on Zee
Cinema.
 "It is always a different feeling whenever the film comes out for the first time, be it the theatres or TV. I hope
more people watch it on TV again," she says.

Gauri says she casts actors as per the script's demand and feels lucky that stars like Sridevi, Shah Rukh Khan and
Alia Bhatt agreed to work with her.
"I don't write stories keeping actors in mind. There is lot of hard work that goes into writing a good story and
then it's a matter of luck to get actors like them," she says.
"I work hard on the stories which convinces the actors to come on board for the films. I have been lucky that these
three persons said yes to the films immediately after reading the story as they found something worthwhile," she says.
Her debut film won several awards but that was not the case with Dear Zindagi. The filmmaker, however, is not
disheartened as she does not find the awards authentic.
"I don't believe in the awards system that we have. There is nothing entirely authentic about it but it's fine, they are
not supposed to be taken seriously."
 "If you get one (award) you feel happy but if you don't get an award it's fine. It doesn't matter to me (referring to not winning an award) as it is a bit of a game. If they (award ceremonies) were credible it would have (mattered) to me but they are not," she says. 
 

Aiming to raise happiness levels among students, IIT-Kharagpur has devised a set of outreach programmes to promote positive attitude in them and encourage them to interact with counsellors.

“The counselling centre at IIT-KGP has formulated programmes on gratitude, kindness, environment friendliness to promote positive attitude among students and help them before they reach any point of desperation or depression,” Prof Sangeeta Das Bhattacharya, faculty in-charge of Counselling Centre at IIT-KGP, said on Sunday.

The programmes at the centre are being developed by clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, psychological counsellors and spearheaded by Prof Bhattacharya.

Some of these programmes are part of the course curriculum at the Rekhi Centre for Science of Happiness at IIT-KGP which treats happiness from a scientific point of view.

The programme being held in April is 'Life under Canopy' which encourages students to locate specific trees around the campus thus helping them to connect to nature, be attentive to one's surroundings and taking out time to pursue something beyond regular routine or hobby.

“Plants are the biggest example of resilience and this programme is aimed at motivating students to be resilient which is a critical factor in countering depression, anxiety and other mental health issues,” Bhattacharya said.

“Spending time in nature is good for the brain. It reduces stress. The Japanese have a word for this Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing). This forest bathing programme is already being practised in Japan as part of its National Health Programme,” Bhattacharya said.

'31 days of Gratitude' programme was conducted in January, while in February it was '28 Things of Random Act of Kindness' and for March it was 'What are you proud of'.

Bhattacharya said while incidents of depression among students are being reported by the media and institutional administration questioned, in society there is lacuna in identifying and accepting abnormalities in mental health as just another disease.

On an average, the counsellors handle 3,000 appointments by students in a year and till now have been able to help over 400 cases of extreme psychological disorders, she said.

The centre has also launched a Facebook page wherein students' requests for assistance are responded to in less than 24 hours.

“We have appointed a social worker as well to keep tab on the students visiting us and follow it up with their health status and well-being. We also involve parents and peers in the counselling process,” she said.

A new Google Earth Virtual Reality (VR) feature allows users to visit any address in the world and fly over it in 3D with the help of a headset system, according to the company.

Using a new updated feature on Google Earth VR, people can choose their own destinations, as long as they know the address or name of the location.

“People want to quickly find and revisit the places that mean the most to them, whether it is a childhood home or favourite vacation spot,” Joanna Kim, a product manager at Google Earth VR said in a blog post.

Users can type an address or the name of a location, and visit it with a 3D headset system, Kim said.

Sightseers can also visit 27 handpicked locations that are now available on Google Earth VR, including Neuschwanstein Castle that inspired the castle in Disney's “Sleeping Beauty”, Table Mountain in South Africa and the Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina.

“When we first launched Google Earth VR, we knew there was something powerful about being able to point anywhere in the world and start flying,” said Kim.
“You could soar over landscapes and cities, and discover locations you did not even know existed,” Kim added.

A grand reception awaits Prime Minister Narendra Modi's day-long visit to the "Queen of Hills" — as Shimla was fondly called by the British colonial rulers — this week to launch an air connectivity scheme and sound the poll bugle in the state, a BJP leader said on Sunday.

This will be Modi's second visit to Himachal Pradesh since he became the Prime Minister in May 2014. Himachal Pradesh is scheduled to go to the polls in November.

Modi will hold a massive roadshow, besides launching the Centre's subsidised air regional connectivity scheme UDAN, or "Ude Desh ka Har Nagarik", building efficient regional air connectivity, from here on April 27.

Later, he will address a public meeting, which is likely to see participation of over one lakh party workers, at the historic Ridge — once the promenade for the British colonial rulers when this city was their summer capital.

"Prime Minister Modi will land at the Jubbarhatti airport near Shimla around 11 a.m and launch the UDAN scheme," former state Health Minister Rajeev Bindal, who is in charge of the Prime Minister's ally, told IANS.

Bindal said after inaugurating the maiden regional connectivity Shimla-Delhi flight from the airport, located 2,196 metres above sea-level, Modi will start his roadshow from Chaura Maidan to the Ridge, the rally venue, 3 km away.

The Shimla airport has been shut for scheduled flights since September 6, 2012, affecting tourists and business travellers to the state.

The Prime Minister will also flag off the regional connectivity Nanded-Mumbai-Hyderabad 'UDAN' flight in Maharashtra and Katappa-Hyderabad flight in Karnataka from Jubbarhatti through video-conferencing, Union Civil Aviation Secretary RK Choubey said.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda, who is reaching here on Monday to oversee the preparations for the rally, and two-time former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal would accompany Modi.

State Bharatiya Janata Party media in-charge Karan Nanda told IANS that from the airport, Modi will reach Chaura Maidan by a helicopter.

BJP leaders are planning that Modi will take a short stroll on the Mall from the General Post Office to the rally venue as this is vehicle-free zone.

Marking Modi's ambitious "Swachh Bharat Abhiyan", the state BJP on Sunday launched a 'Clean up Shimla' campaign.

State Commissioner of Tourism and Civil Aviation Dinesh Malhotra said tickets for the inaugural flight would cost Rs.1,920.

He said a regular flight, which will operate five days in a week from Wednesday, will depart at 6.10 a.m. from Delhi and will arrive here at 7.25 a.m. 

On the same day, it will depart at 7.45 a.m. from Shimla and will return to Delhi at 8.45 a.m.

The French consulate in New York, where thousands of expatriates were registered to cast ballots in their presidential election, was briefly evacuated following a bomb threat, officials said.

A suspicious vehicle prompted police to clear the building on Fifth Avenue across from Central Park, Consul General Anne-Claire Legendre said on Saturday.

“After the Champs Elysees attack, the New York police department was told to be especially vigilant,” she said.
Dozens of people who were inside the building at about 5 pm (2100 GMT) waited on the sidewalk while authorities checked the vehicle.

The situation returned to normal after about 50 minutes, consulate press officer Amelie Geoffroy said.

Voting activities, which were scheduled to take place until 7 pm, also resumed, she added.

Some 28,500 French citizens living in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are registered to vote at the consulate.
Security measures were strengthened at French polling stations across the United States following a jihadist's killing of a policeman on Paris' famed Champs Elysees avenue this week.

Actress Priyanka Chopra, who is back here after wrapping up her international projects, spent some time with the Dil Dhadakne Do team, including actor Ranveer Singh and filmmaker Zoya Akhtar.

The actress says it was great catching up with her friends from the industry. 

"Good to see you Ranveer as always and BTW your rhyme game last night (Saturday) was on point! Dil Dhadakne Do reunion Ranveer, Ritesh Sidhwani and Zoya," Priyanka tweeted on Sunday.

She was happy that she got to spend "good time with good people". 

"Thank you Ritesh and Dolly for hosting such a lovely evening for me. Much love partner," the Quantico star posted. 

Ranveer also tweeted "mama Zo and Madam Mercurial… My girls Priyanka Chopra and Zoya Akhtar."

In the twilight of his career and prone to injuries like never before, ace Indian wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt is still eager to continue and insists that the thought of retirement has not even crossed his mind yet.

The 34-year-old, who won a bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics, had announced that the Rio Games were to be his last Olympics. But after failing in his endeavour to win a medal there, his search for a grand swansong continues for the time being.

Being away from action for the last eight months and an injury-prone body notwithstanding, the Haryana-grappler has put his retirement plans on the backburner.

“Retirement is something that is not even on my mind. I would like to make a comeback to the international arena before bidding adieu to the sport. So, there are no plans of quitting any time soon,” Yogeshwar told PTI.

Despite being bogged down by numerous injuries, the passion for his sport remains intact and Yogeshwar wants to bring the curtains down on his glorious career by winning one last medal for the country.

“I have suffered from a number of injuries in the past one year or so. Thus, my main focus is on attaining fitness. And only after I am completely injury-free, I would be able to assess where I stand and decide when I can compete,” he said.

“I would certainly be returning to the mat but when would that be, I am not sure. Right now my aim is to achieve full fitness and only after that I would choose which tournament to take part in.”

Yogeshwar has not competed since his heartbreaking loss in the first round of the Rio Games in the men's 65kg freestyle.

During his 0-3 defeat to Mongolia's Mandakhnaran Ganzorig at Rio de Janeiro, Yogeshwar looked a pale shadow of himself. He was seen trying to use his power rather than speed to win points. It raised questions about his chronic knee injury.

Yogeshwar is keen that his weaknesses are never highlighted the way they got highlighted in Rio.

Asked whether he is targeting either the Commonwealth Games or the Asian Games scheduled next year, to make a comeback, the legendary grappler remained non-committal.

“It would be unfair to commit right now whether I would be participating in either Commonwealth or Asian Games. I would need to sit down and gather my thoughts before returning to action at the international arena,” he insisted.

He wants to remain competitive, but Yogeshwar has already started giving back to the game, having opened a wrestling academy in Sonepat with an aim to groom budding talent.

“I have opened my academy recently, so I am very busy with that. It is my way of contributing to the sport that has given me so much,” concluded Yogeshwar.

The government has taken away some civil infrastructure works from the Indian Army-controlled Border Roads Organisation (BRO) as it has failed to meet deadlines for key roads in strategically-important locations, resulting not only in delays but also huge cost over-runs.

Many of these projects are now being transferred to a fledgling state-owned company, the National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) that was set up in 2014 and went on to achieve "Mini Ratna" status in quick time last year.

A cabinet document circulated to central ministries and seen by IANS notes that the BRO is overstretched and has been given work beyond its capacity and mandate.

"The BRO has started taking work beyond (its) size. Initially only for strategically important works, (it) later took the civil work as well," reads the cabinet note.

The document notes that the main object of the proposal was to expedite the implementation of road infrastructure projects in the country that would increase connectivity to far-off areas and further augment economic activities there.

The cabinet note has also suggested that the BRO adopt new technologies and also urgently resize its strength in terms of work force and avoid cost-escalation of projects.

Some of the delayed projects include the 220-km-long National Highway (NH)-53 in Manipur. The delay has escalated the cost to a whopping Rs 1,600 crore ($247 million) from Rs 1,100 crore, the document noted.

"Due to very slow progress, the road is proposed to be transferred from the BRO," reads the cabinet note.

Another project is the 126-km NH-39 between Imphal and Kohima, which has been pending since 2011.

Other delayed projects are the Ukhrul-Toloi-Tadubi section of NH-102A in Manipur and improvement of the Aizwal-Tuipang section in Mizoram.

In response to the cabinet note, many ministries and their departments have accorded the green signal to the proposal that these projects be transferred to the NHIDCL.

The Home Ministry has supported the move because "the object of the proposed company (NHIDCL)… is broad enough to undertake the work of construction of border roads".

The Economic Affairs and the Expenditure Department of the Finance Ministry, in response to the note, said that the "focus on the northeast region may also help in reducing the multiplicity of agencies".

"Some activities of the NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) and the BRO can be taken over by the NHIDCL."

The Ministry of Law has also supported the proposal as "no legal issues have been raised".

The BRO's parent, the Defence Ministry, has suggested that projects may be transferred to "the new entity NHIDCL on a case-to-case basis".

As such, the roads offloaded from the BRO and transferred to NHIDCL include several projects in Arunachal Pradesh that connect key areas in the border state.

Commenting on the issue, a senior bureaucrat at the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways (MoRTH) familiar with the developments said that NHIDCL would continue working with the BRO that needed to focus more on defence roads and infrastructure.

"The BRO should focus only on defence security road issues. Both NHIDCL and BRO are the two arms of the government and are building synergies to build the nation in the best possible ways," the official, unwilling to be named, told IANS.

Records from the NHIDCL reveal that several projects under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious Bharatmala initiative have been transfered to the NHIDCL from the BRO.

NHIDCL — initially set up to improve roads in the northeast — has already been assigned several strategic projects connecting India to Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency for funding under the South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) initiative.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address all 13 BJP chief ministers on Sunday evening and he is likely to ask them to focus on the agenda of “good governance and development”.

The exercise, which will be attended by party chief Amit Shah and top Union ministers, is being seen as part of his drive to ensure that his governance agenda dominates public discourse and trumps opposition parties' attack on his government over a host of issues.

Besides the 13 chief ministers, the most the saffron party has ever had, five deputy chief ministers and Union ministers like Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Sushma Swaraj and M Venkaiah Naidu will be among those present, a party statement has said.

Modi's pitch will include the need for them to focus on his development agenda with an emphasis on the poor sections of the society, party sources said.

BJP general secretary Bhupender Yadav said this would be the second meeting of all party chief ministers with Modi since he came to power in 2014.

A similar exercise was held in last August.

With the next set of assembly elections due later this year and Modi and Shah already toning up the organisational machinery for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, they are keen to ensure that their development agenda is not overshadowed by other factors.

Only recently in his address to party leaders in the BJP national executive meet, Modi had spoken about the need for India to take a “long jump” to make rapid progress, while Shah had asserted that the saffron party was yet to reach its peak.

All the BJP chief ministers along with their counterparts from other states will be in the national capital on Sunday to take part in the Niti Aayog meeting.