Private developers seek overhaul of NHAI,more power to regional offices

The functioning of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was the main theme of discussion at a meeting between the highways minister C P Joshi and the private developers on Monday. The developers asked the minister to appoint separate board members for the functions of procurement,implementation,dispute resolution,operation and maintenance and land acquisition. At present,these functions are being performed by two board members. The developers also asked the minister to grant more powers to regional offices to speed up ground work,especially for shifting utilities.

The meeting follows an earlier review by the Prime Minister of the roads sector in which he had raised the issue of restructuring the NHAI,which has been functioning without a full-time chairperson for over six months. There are four members on the board: two for technical,and one each for finance and administration. Projects are divided state-wise among them.

The other suggestions are creating an independent regulator for the highways sector and the creation of a dispute resolution cell within the NHAI. The developers felt that the authority should be run on a more corporate style of management.

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C P Joshi indicated that he wanted to make the NHAI board more broad-based by bringing on board experts from the private sector. The developers though are wary that low government salaries would discourage application. The minister indicated that he was open to suggestions from the private sector for the chairpersons post and that the salary would not be an issue: You suggest the name and I will go to the Prime Minister for the salary.

The changes proposed by the minister may result in the doubling of the members of the board. Later,the minister also met NHAI officials and discussed the restructuring of the organisation and also how the role of the project director could be strengthened.