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Lok Sabha nod clears deck for NHAI revamp
The passage of the NHAI (Amendment) Bill, 2011 in the Lok Sabha on Monday has cleared the decks for the much-needed revamping of the road construction authority, which has failed to meet the standards and target.
The revamp will see inclusion of non-Government professionals, as part-time members of the National Highways Authority of India. Also, the body will have one additional full-time member besides the existing five members on board. This apart, the total number of part-time members have been increased to six with two additional professionals as members to be brought in.
“We will ensure that at least two of them are non-Government professionals having knowledge in financial management, transportation planning or any other relevant discipline,” said Minister for Road Transport and Highways CP Joshi.
The objective for the revamp is to enhance the capacity of the Authority by inducting professionals from outside. “Keeping in view the vastly increased mandate of the NHAI, the next composition is expected to help the authority take strategic decision, widen its perspective, bring in the best management practices and assist in achieving the goal of higher private participation,” Joshi said.
Currently the NHAI is headed by a Chairman RP Singh and has only three Members — Administration, Projects and Finance. Three posts remain vacant. NHAI sources said theappointments are likely by year-end.
With the amendment, one vacancy has been created for a part-time member. Presently, the part-time members are from Planning Commission and Finance Ministry besides Secretary, Road Transport and Highways Ministry.
The passage of the NHAI (Amendment) Bill, 2011 in the Lok Sabha on Monday has cleared the decks for the much-needed revamping of the road construction authority, which has failed to meet the standards and target.
The revamp will see inclusion of non-Government professionals, as part-time members of the National Highways Authority of India. Also, the body will have one additional full-time member besides the existing five members on board. This apart, the total number of part-time members have been increased to six with two additional professionals as members to be brought in.
“We will ensure that at least two of them are non-Government professionals having knowledge in financial management, transportation planning or any other relevant discipline,” said Minister for Road Transport and Highways CP Joshi.
The objective for the revamp is to enhance the capacity of the Authority by inducting professionals from outside. “Keeping in view the vastly increased mandate of the NHAI, the next composition is expected to help the authority take strategic decision, widen its perspective, bring in the best management practices and assist in achieving the goal of higher private participation,” Joshi said.
Currently the NHAI is headed by a Chairman RP Singh and has only three Members — Administration, Projects and Finance. Three posts remain vacant. NHAI sources said theappointments are likely by year-end.
With the amendment, one vacancy has been created for a part-time member. Presently, the part-time members are from Planning Commission and Finance Ministry besides Secretary, Road Transport and Highways Ministry.
