Government asks PSUs to clear overdue payments by October 15 to boost economic growth

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said state-owned companies have also been asked to set up a portal by October 15 where service providers, vendors and contractors can track bills and payments so that liquidity crunch is mitigated.

The government on Saturday set October 15 as the deadline for central PSUs to clear overdue payments to vendors and contractors as it looks to lift economic growth from six-year low by boosting expenditure.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reviewed the capital spending programmes with heads of central public sector enterprises (PTI Photo)

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who reviewed capital spending programmes with heads of central public sector enterprises, said state-owned companies have also been asked to set up a portal by October 15 where service providers, vendors and contractors can track bills and payments so that liquidity crunch is mitigated.

Also, public sector undertakings (PSUs) have been asked to detail lifespan of arbitrations that lock payments after disputes with vendors and contractors, she said, adding the state-owned firms have also been asked to submit spending plans for the next four quarters.

Expenditure Secretary Girish Chandra Murmu said capex of all the 242-odd PSUs will be over ₹4 lakh crore.