Dehradun: To ensure timely commencement of new projects proposed for the next financial year, the government has adopted a strict approach to the approval process. It was clarified at the meeting of the Committee of Secretaries that administrative and financial approvals for all new projects commencing in 2026-27 must be obtained by February 15th. The objective is to ensure that there are no delays in the implementation of projects once the budget is released.
Important Meeting of the Committee of Secretaries: The state government has already geared up for the projects and development works proposed for the upcoming financial year. To this end, an important meeting of the Committee of Secretaries was held on Monday in the Secretariat under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan. During the meeting, the Chief Secretary clearly indicated that delays and procedural sluggishness in development projects will no longer be tolerated.
Necessary approvals must be obtained by February 15th at all costs: He directed that all necessary approvals for all new projects to be initiated in the next financial year must be obtained by February 15th at all costs. The Chief Secretary stated that it is often observed that despite the budget being passed, projects are not started on time, primarily due to delays in the approval process. The public suffers the direct consequences. Therefore, departments must proceed with full preparation in advance.
Deadlines signal a change in the government’s work culture: He directed officials to prioritize proposed projects and complete the administrative and financial approval process within the stipulated timeframe. It was also clarified in the meeting that the February 15th deadline is not just a date, but a signal of a change in the government’s work culture.
Timely approvals will not only ensure early commencement of projects, but also allow the tender process, agency selection, and field work to begin early in the financial year. This will ensure better utilization of the budget and avoid unnecessary haste in completing plans.
Instructions to Prepare a Detailed Annual Calendar: The Chief Secretary also issued another important directive to streamline departmental functioning. He directed that each department prepare a detailed annual calendar of all its tasks and plans. This calendar should determine which task is to be completed in which phase of the year and which officer or unit will be responsible for it.
The government is striving to bring clarity to the functioning of departments through the annual calendar and establish better coordination in the implementation of tasks. The Chief Secretary stated that a calendar-based approach will make it easier to identify where and at what level delays are occurring, enabling timely corrective action.
Regular Review of Goals: The meeting also discussed that sometimes, plans are initiated, but due to the lack of fixed deadlines and milestones, they remain incomplete for long periods. In response, the Chief Secretary directed that the annual calendar should include clear goals and phased deadlines for each plan and task. These targets should also be reviewed regularly to ensure continuous monitoring of progress.
Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan stated that the government’s objective is not merely to announce new schemes, but also to ensure that their benefits reach the public in a timely manner. For this, punctuality, discipline, and accountability at the departmental level are essential.
He expressed his expectation that all secretaries will take these directives seriously and strictly implement them in their respective departments. These directives issued at the Secretary Committee meeting clearly demonstrate that the state government is now adopting a more serious and systematic approach to the implementation of schemes. With timely approvals and a system of working through an annual calendar, it is expected that the pace of development work will accelerate in the coming financial year, and schemes will move from paper to the ground.
