Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be holding fortnightly reviews of the implementation of the common minimum programme of the United Progressive Alliance government.

The first review will take place on July 5 at the Prime Minister's Office. According to government sources, a communique to this effect has been sent to all ministries.

While appointments to the 20-member advisory board on the common minimum programme have not been made as yet, the review suggests that the prime minister is determined to retain control on policy issues.

The reviews will not be a general macro-review but will go into details. The sources add that the prime minister will be asking one ministry at a time to present its progress report.

While it is doubtful that individual ministers will be summoned for the meeting, secretary-level officials will be asked to be present for the meetings.

These fortnightly meetings are also being seen as a way in which Singh can keep an eye on the performing and non-performing ministers.

Singh, who remains closeted in meetings from 10 in the morning, has, according to the sources, written a letter to all ministers exhorting them to get down to work. The letter states that "there are lots of promises made in the common minimum programme and we have to fulfill them".

The prime minister has told his Cabinet colleagues to cut down on foreign travel as there is "too much work to be done".

The prime minister is also said to be upset with a few ministers who are seen more often on television than in their offices.

Probably the least seen prime minister in recent memory, Singh will address the nation on television this week, where he will set out his government's agenda.