The Department of Economic Affairs has asked State Governments to go ahead with infrastructure projects to improve the growth rate of the country. DEA Additional Secretary Sindhushree Khullar described the public-private partnership (PPP) route as an unavoidable option to reduce the glaring infrastructure deficit that is visible across states. She explained that the DEA had worked with the rating agencies to develop a framework for grading infrastructure projects that would help investors identify the risks involved in the projects. She was speaking at a workshop for States on PPP here, organised by the Department of Economic Affairs under Union Finance Ministry and industry body CII here. Addressing the delegates, Meghalaya Chief Secretary Ranjan Chatterjee dwelt on issues pertinent to economic development of Meghalaya and welcomed the private investors under PPP in infrastructure projects, such as power, airports, tourism and roads. PPP projects in the road sector would help in catalyzing the growth of the State which is a land-locked State, he added.