In a semi-official letter to his officials, Saigal, who took over as chief secretary late last month, said the schemes will be carefully selected and shall be cleared at all levels on a priority basis.

Official sources said that the fast-track schemes concept, a brainchild of Saigal, had become necessary since timely and effective completion of certain schemes and projects dealing with the socio-economic welfare of the people had assumed crucial importance today.

"The GNCT secretariat, which is the nerve centre of the government, has therefore, to gear itself to the task of making expeditious policy decisions and of their proper and timely implementation. With this end in view, the concept of the `fast-track schemes' and their special monitoring has come to occupy a specialplace," Saigal said in his letter. Identification of the schemes will be done by the heads of department under the guidance of the secretaries and ministers in-charge.

The chief secretary, a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, has been involved in Delhi's developmental affairs for several years now. He has worked in various capacities in the government, including as chairman of the Delhi State Industrial Development Corporation (DSIDC) and secretary, finance.

Saigal has even gone into the specifics and advised his officers that for processing such schemes, there should be special red file covers prominently displaying the words "fast-track scheme". All letters with regard to these schemes should also carry the "fast-track scheme" sticker.

He has said the project or the task in which time is the essence of its success or in which time-overrun invariably results in cost-overrun may be considered for its inclusion under this scheme. The chief secretary has ordered that the notes and draftson these schemes should be initiated by the head of department himself, or some responsible senior officer having special knowledge about the scheme.