Principal Secretary for Urban Development P. Guru Prasad expressed strong displeasure on Friday over the slow pace of several city development projects, making it clear that future evaluations will prioritise tangible results over paper-based claims. His review of schemes run by the State Urban Development Agency in Lucknow set a sharper timetable for completion and demanded closer coordination between government bodies and private developers.
Lighthouse Project India progress and accountability
Officials were told to accelerate work on the Lighthouse Project after the principal secretary voiced dissatisfaction with residual tasks. He instructed authorities to coordinate closely with municipal corporations, housing boards and private developers to ensure pending construction and finishing works are completed within the stipulated deadlines.
The review emphasised the Prime Minister Awas Yojana Urban, or PMAY-U. Mr Guru Prasad ordered that more than 64,000 outstanding houses from the scheme’s first phase be completed on schedule. During the discussion on PMAY-U 2.0, Director of the State Urban Development Agency, Apurva Dubey, reported that the scheme had attracted more than 2.3 million applications, of which roughly 400,000 have been verified to date.
To remove bottlenecks, the principal secretary called for practical measures in districts where projects lag. He asked local authorities to set up tight monitoring and to hold regular coordination meetings with developers, municipal officials and housing boards. The aim is to move beyond paperwork and to deliver visible, on-the-ground housing outcomes that benefit residents.
The review also covered social support initiatives. Mr Guru Prasad examined the operation of 50 Shakti kitchens across 40 districts and suggested expanding their locations to high-footfall hubs such as airports and metro stations to increase accessibility and visibility. He said the kitchens should be run efficiently and with a focus on sustainability and community service.
On the issue of urban poverty pockets, the principal secretary warned that there will be no tolerance for delay or complacency in the Chief Minister’s Urban Underdeveloped and Slum Rehabilitation scheme. He insisted that contractors and local officials must meet deadlines and maintain quality standards.
Officials also noted administrative issues affecting delivery. The director highlighted staff shortages in the department, which have contributed to implementation delays. Mr Guru Prasad assured officials that the vacancies would be addressed promptly and urged departments to adopt interim measures to maintain momentum while recruitment proceeds.
Overall the review sent a clear message that state authorities will measure success by completed works rather than documented milestones. With significant housing needs and large numbers of pending applications, the administration has signalled an operational shift towards stricter oversight, faster verification processes and improved coordination with private partners to deliver housing and related services on the ground.
As deadlines are enforced, officials and developers will be judged by their ability to translate plans into completed homes and functioning community services across the state.
Key Takeaways:
- Senior official P. Guru Prasad demands ground results over paperwork and orders strict deadlines for pending urban projects, including the Lighthouse Project.
- Over 64,000 houses under PMAY-U phase one remain incomplete and must be finished within the set timelines.
- PMAY-U 2.0 has received 2.3 million applications with 400,000 verifications completed so far.
- Review also covered 50 Shakti kitchens and recommended operations at airports and metro stations to expand reach.
