‘Installed capacity of renewable energy has crossed 44 GW’

New Delhi, Aug 22 (PTI) The cumulative installed capacityof renewable energy has crossed 44 GigaWatts and "phenomenalprogress" has been made in other key infrastructure sectorslike aviation and railways, a meeting chaired by PrimeMinister Narendra Modi was told today. At the meeting held to review the functioning of the keyinfrastructure sectors, NITI Aayog made a presentation,according to a PMO statement. The meeting was told that in the new and renewable energysector, the cumulative installed capacity has crossed 44GigaWatts, it said. Targets have been met for various components, and variousprojects under Centre and state policies, the statement said. The Prime Minister was briefed on plans and strategies tofurther ramp up solar energy production, including throughrooftop generation. The meeting was also told that 3.5 crore LED bulbs havebeen distributed during the first quarter of the currentfinancial year. In the aviation sector, Modi reviewed progress made inkey policy areas such as safety and connectivity. It was noted that eight Indian airports are ranked amongthe top 5 globally in their respective categories, thestatement said. The Prime Minister was also briefed on steps being takento further boost regional connectivity, and further improvecustomer satisfaction indices at airports. Indian Railways has achieved a target of daily passengermovement of 2.25 crore. 240 unmanned crossings have beeneliminated in the first quarter of the current fiscal year,the meeting was told. In the ports sector, there has been considerable progressin average vessel turnaround time. With regard to the housing sector, 6.94 lakh rural houseshave been completed in the first quarter of the current fiscalyear, as compared to a target of 6 lakh houses, the statementsaid. Reviewing the progress in the petroleum and natural gassector, the Prime Minister sought to know the steps beingtaken to ramp up ethanol blending of petrol. He was informed that over 15 crore households werecovered under Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG in FY16. PTI AKKAKK