Dehradun, Oct. 24 -- In a significant boost to Uttarakhand's fiscal reform and governance initiatives, the central government has recommended a Rs.680 crore project-"Strengthening Public Financial Management for Improved Service Delivery in Uttarakhand"-to the World Bank for consideration. The project aims to enhance the state's financial transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public service delivery, said officials here on Thursday. The proposal, prepared by the Government of Uttarakhand, seeks external assistance of approximately US$80 million (Rs.680 crore) from the World Bank to modernise the state's public financial management system. The project focuses on making financial processes more digital, transparent, and result-oriented. According to officials, the Ministry of Finance's Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) in New Delhi has formally forwarded the proposal to Paul Procee, Acting Country Director, World Bank India Office, recommending it for consideration and approval. The ministry's letter enclosed the Uttarakhand government's detailed proposal outlining the project's objectives and expected outcomes. Officials said the initiative is aimed at ushering in structural reforms in financial management, budgetary control, accounting systems, expenditure management, and service delivery. By leveraging technology and real-time data systems, the project intends to ensure that public funds are managed efficiently and reach beneficiaries promptly and transparently. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami welcomed the Centre's recommendation, calling it a major milestone in Uttarakhand's governance reforms. "This is a recognition of our efforts toward financial reform and good governance. Our goal is to ensure that every rupee of public money is spent with transparency and accountability. With World Bank's support, we will make the state's financial systems more digital, robust, and result-oriented," Dhami said. The chief minister added that the project will strengthen fiscal discipline, transparency in financial data, expenditure management and the quality of service delivery across all departments. Officials in the state finance department said the initiative will give a major thrust to digital public finance management and e-governance in Uttarakhand. It will enhance real-time monitoring, improve reporting mechanisms, and create an integrated financial management system linking every department to a central platform. Officials said once implemented, the initiative is expected to mark a historic shift in Uttarakhand's financial governance, strengthening the state's reputation as a transparent, fiscally disciplined, and technology-driven administration. With the combined support of the Government of India and the World Bank, officials said the project will lay the foundation for effective, citizen-centric service delivery and long-term financial sustainability, officials said....