India Set to Unveil Revamped Infrastructure Monitoring System in January
The Indian government is set to launch a revamped infrastructure project monitoring system in January, which aims to enhance the tracking and management of central infrastructure projects across the country. The upgrade comes at a critical time as India’s infrastructure development continues to accelerate, with numerous large-scale projects underway in various sectors.
According to sources, the new system will streamline the tracking of project milestones during the pre-construction stage, providing clearer insights into each step of a project’s journey. This will allow the government and stakeholders to identify potential delays and slippages early, ensuring that project costs and timelines remain within the approved limits. One of the key changes includes a more transparent system to track project start dates and tender award dates, alongside the previously recorded board approval dates. Moreover, the completion date of a project will now be automatically calculated based on the actual start date. The revamped system will operate through the Online Computerised Monitoring System (OCMS), a platform managed by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). The OCMS tracks central infrastructure projects worth ₹150 crore and above, releasing monthly and quarterly reports on the status of these projects across states and sectors. The system’s reports offer comprehensive details on projects that are completed, ongoing, or deleted, and provide information on cost overruns or additional expenditures, ensuring greater accountability and transparency.
The government’s decision to enhance the monitoring system is part of a broader effort to improve project efficiency and effectiveness. By offering real-time data on project progress, the new system aims to minimise delays, control costs, and ensure that critical national infrastructure projects stay on schedule. Another key feature of the revamped system is its integration with the India Investment Grid (IIG) and the Project Monitoring Group (PMG) portal through application programming interfaces (APIs). This will allow for the seamless entry of data across platforms, ensuring consistency in definitions, calculations, and reporting standards. The integration is expected to improve collaboration between various departments and agencies, enabling them to share data more efficiently.
The initiative is being closely coordinated with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), which are working together to ensure the system’s smooth implementation. These departments will also be responsible for ensuring that the system aligns with the government’s larger goals of infrastructure development and economic growth. From a human perspective, this upgrade reflects a growing need for transparent and efficient monitoring systems in the face of rapidly expanding infrastructure demands. For stakeholders, including government bodies, contractors, and the public, the new system promises to provide greater clarity on the status of projects and build trust in the government’s commitment to infrastructure development. As India continues its push for economic growth and modernisation, this revamped monitoring system is poised to play a crucial role in ensuring that the country’s infrastructure projects are executed efficiently, on time, and within budget, thus contributing to national progress.
