NITI Aayog proposes CEO’s induction on NHAI board

The NITI Aayog has proposed to the PMO that its chief executive officer be inducted on NHAI’s board to fast-track clearances on highway projects, as the central government is struggling to meet the highways construction rate target of 40 km per day. At present, if the NHAI board proposes a highway project worth less than Rs 10 billion, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) clears and sends it for cabinet approval. However, if the project cost is more than Rs 10 billion, the MoRTH forwards it to the Ministry of Finance where the expenditure department scrutinises it at multiple levels and then sends it for cabinet approval, thereby making it a lengthy process.