India set to launch upgraded infrastructure monitoring system

This upgrading comes as the nation’s infrastructure development across many sectors accelerates, with the goal of ensuring timely delivery, cost-effectiveness, and increased transparency in project execution.

The Indian government plans to implement a revised infrastructure project monitoring system in January, to improve the tracking and management of central infrastructure projects across the country. This improvement comes as India accelerates infrastructure development, with multiple large-scale projects underway in various sectors.

The redesigned system will focus on streamlining project milestone monitoring throughout the pre-construction stage, providing more insight into each stage of a project’s life cycle. Its goal is to keep costs and schedules within acceptable boundaries by identifying potential delays early on. Key enhancements include collecting project start and tender award dates and previously recorded board approval dates. Furthermore, project completion dates will be automatically estimated using real start dates, resulting in more precise timetables.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) manages the improved Online Computerised Monitoring System (OCMS), which tracks government infrastructure projects worth ₹150 crore or more. The OCMS issues monthly and quarterly reports that outline the status of projects (finished, ongoing, or cancelled) and provide information on cost overruns or additional expenditures. These modifications aim to increase transparency and accountability in project implementation.

One of the most notable aspects of the updated system is its connectivity with the India Investment Grid (IIG) and the Project Monitoring Group (PMG) site via application programming interfaces (APIs). This interface allows for smooth data entry across systems while assuring uniformity in definitions, calculations, and reporting standards. The partnership is projected to promote inter-departmental communication, resulting in more effective data sharing and better project coordination.

The upgrading is closely coordinated with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), striving to align the system with the larger aims of infrastructure development and economic growth. These measures demonstrate the government’s commitment to increasing project efficiency and openness.

The redesigned system delivers real-time data on project progress to stakeholders such as government entities, contractors, and the general public, allowing them to trust the government’s infrastructure projects more. The system is expected to play an important role in aiding India’s push for economic growth and modernisation by reducing delays, regulating costs, and enhancing accountability, assuring the timely and effective implementation of vital infrastructure projects.