The biggest challenge facing Kerala on the path of development is the slow pace of project implementation. There are mega projects that lie caught in red tapes. The disadvantages of this many. First, it will take a long time for people to benefit from such schemes. Second, the longer the implementation period, the higher the cost. Even if it is a day late, the additional cost is lakhs or crores. All projects, large and small, need to be completed on time for rapid progress.
Realizing this, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan himself has taken the crucial decision to bring big projects under a single department and to oversee them. This will pave the way for the development department, which comes into existence with independent powers, to implement mega projects in the state in a time-bound manner. It will also be a new beginning in the administration when the Chief Principal Secretary and Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister will take control of the new development department along with the Chief Minister. K M Abraham, the Chief Executive Officer and former Chief Secretary of KIFB, who mobilises money for big projects, has been appointed as the Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. A system is coming up that will pave the way for everything related to project implementation to be carried out in an orderly and speedy manner.

There are several major projects in various stages that could change the face of the state. Only when the various departments come together can they be put into action. Lack of co-ordination, mismanagement and above all laziness of departments are the constant obstacles faced by the projects. There are plans that go on indefinitely just because it is too late to make a decision. Experiences of having to wait a long for the approval of any department during the construction phase are not uncommon.

These are problems that can be easily solved by ensuring coordination of departments. This kind of coordination and sense of purpose is inevitable when it comes to big projects. The relevance of the new development department headed by the Chief Minister is crucial. Many development projects under the purview of the Department include Development of Light Metro, K-Phone, Semi-High Speed Rail, Kochi Smart City, Vizhinjam Port, Extension of Natural Gas Pipeline, Industrial Corridor, National Highway Development, National Waterway and high range -Coastal Roads to provide free internet access to the common man. There is no doubt that if all these can be realized during the tenure of this ministry, the face of the state will change.

It is gratifying that the ministers have started trying to bring about new changes in some other important departments as well, with the new development department coming under the leadership of the Chief Minister. Public Works Minister Mohammad Riyaz and Food and Civil Supplies Minister GR. Anil and Minister of Agriculture P. Prasad have already come up with an immediate solution to the grievances of the people. The reform measures initiated by them can serve as a model for other ministers in charge of departments that interact most closely with the people. Minister Mohammad Riyaz has announced that the maintenance department will create an 'app' for those who have complaints about the condition of roads and want to inform the minister. The deplorable condition of public roads is an active problem faced by people all over the state. In the past, people used to draw the attention of the government by propping up plantain tree and coconut sapling on the road. That situation has changed significantly today as public roads have generally improved. However, there are a number of public roads that need urgent maintenance. The situation is likely to worsen with the onset of monsoon. The Minister will only intervene in the matter of roads under the Maintenance Department. In the case of other roads, it is up to the respective local bodies to take action. Intervention by my the minister in their case will only bring relief to them.

The Minister in charge of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, GR. Anil has started a phone-in program. The public can lodge any grievance related to food distribution directly with the Minister. The solution is guaranteed. Even if the minister is not available on the phone, there is a system to inform him directly through social media. The plan is to make the phone-in event a regular feature two days a week. Of course, the time and effort set aside for this will never be wasted. Similar arrangements can be made in other departments which are very close to the people.
Immediate steps should be taken to complete the e-governance system introduced during the previous government. If government offices could be completely file-free, the benefits to the people would be immense. There is nothing better than being able to get government services easily and quickly.