New Delhi, Jan 30 : The Central Government has urged the States to accelerate project work in sectors like infrastructure and urban and rural development to fight the economic slowdown.

Chief Secretaries'' meeting with the Cabinet Secretary on Friday focused on employment, primarily in important areas like surface transport, rural development and urban development.

Planning Commission Secretary Subhas Pani said that the Centre could help states with infrastructure if they provide land for making houses at affordable prices.

He informed that 63 mission cities in the country could undertake new programmes of Rs. 100 crore each and smaller cities of Rs. 50 crore each, and the financing will be done in the current fiscal.

Pani said that after judging the performance of the states, the government may plan to hold dialogues with individual states on a personal basis, if the need was felt. (ANI)