By IANS
New Delhi : The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will be restructured to enable it effectively manage and bring global standards into road projects that involve both the state-run companies and the private sector.
The nod for restructuring, given by the union cabinet in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohahn Sigh here Friday, is subject to formulation of guidelines from the Department of Expenditure.
The restructuring envisages selection of the chairman by a committee headed by the cabinet secretary with a fixed tenure of at least three years that can be extended to five years. The retirement age has also been raised to 62.
Giving the details of the restructuring, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi told reporters that the authority would have six full-time members as against the five at present.
The number of part-time members has been increased to six from the present four and they will all be from outside the government, including one from the Indian Institute of Technology or Indian Institute of Management, he said.
The cabinet also approved the creation of 26 posts of chief general managers over and above the existing 13, Dasmunsi said, adding the authority has also been empowered to engage outside experts.