An inter-departmental panel overseeing implementation of the National e-Governance Plan today stressed the need to carry out business process re-engineering to remove bottlenecks in computerisation of various government departments.

"Several representatives from the industry and officials of state governments today stressed the need to have business process re-engineering," Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar, who chaired the apex committee meeting on NeGP, told reporters here.

Explaining the concept, he said the Department of Information and Technology has been requested to set up a "small group" of officials from the Centre and the state governments to prepare a roadmap for process re-engineering.

It would involve identification of 30 to 40 processes which can be re-engineered to ensure that bottlenecks are removed before projects relating to computerisation in various government departments are implemented.

The Cabinet Secretary said there could be processes which could delay decision-making on part of the government, "for example there could be delay in sanctioning a scheme, monitoring of a scheme, release of funds and in sanctioning of manpower."

While ruling out "dramatic results overnight", he hoped that the group will start coming out with solutions in the next three months.

The committee also examined the need for a "dedicated project team" in every department which will have the requisite domain, technical as well as project management knowledge. "Part time participation will not work," Chandrasekhar said.

Against the backdrop of the Right to Information Act and the recent amendments in the IT Act which provides legal recognition for electronic transactions, the committee also discussed recommendations of the Administrative Reforms Commission for "enabling legal framework to mandate provision of all public services of the central ministries compulsorily through electronic means only.