Focus on infrastructure, PM tells ministers

New Delhi :  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday told his 77-member council of ministers at its first meeting since Sunday’s reshuffle that infrastructure development and overcoming hurdles that slow down investment should be areas of focus.

At the 30-minute meeting held at the Prime Minister’s House – 7 Race Course Road – Manmohan Singh also flagged fiscal deficit as a matter of concern. He said the deficit is too high, and could deter domestic and foreign investment.

“One area that is at the top of our agenda and will require particular attention and effort at multiple levels across government is infrastructure,” Singh said, in his opening remarks.

The government, he said, had set itself a target of $1 trillion investments in the infrastructure sectors during the 12th plan period from 2012-17.

“To do so, we will have to overcome the constraints that currently deter or slow down this investment,” he noted.

This was the first such meeting held by the prime minister since the United Progressive Alliance returned to power in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

Photo  : PIB