News Analysis India

Tag: NHAI

  • Power Games: PMO denies extension to Gadkari’s key men in NHAI

    Express News Service

    Tension WithinPMO denies extension to Gadkari’s key men in NHAI

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi-headed Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has rejected a proposal sent by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for extending the tenure of its two top officials – Member (Technical) Mahabir Singh and Member (Projects) Manoj Kumar. They look after the critical aspects of the NHAI, India’s largest road and bridge builder. Sources said Singh and Kumar are considered close to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. The NHAI, which functions under Gadkari’s ministry, had sought a two-year extension for these officers. Mahabir Singh was appointed NHAI’s Member (Technical) in July 2020 for three years. His term expires this month-end. Manoj Kumar’s term has also come to an end. According to sources, the Prime Minister’s Office was not happy with the performance of the two officers.

    Pulling Apart BJP’s RS pick brings focus on division of Bengal

    The BJP leadership’s choice of Ananta Rai Maharaj as its candidate to represent West Bengal in the Rajya Sabha has reignited the debate on the division of West Bengal and the formation of a separate state comprising some districts of north Bengal and Assam. Ananta Rai is a leader of Koch-Rajbanshis and has been a votary of a separate state of ‘Greater Cooch Behar”. Rai heads the Greater Cooch Behar People’s Association, working to carve out a separate state from Bengal.

    The BJP-led Union government is also in talks with Jibon Singha, chief of the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO). KLO has been engaged in an armed struggle to create a separate state comprising north Bengal districts. Several BJP legislators from north Bengal have openly backed the demand for the division of Bengal. Union Minister of State for home affairs Nisith Pramanik, an MP from north Bengal, had earlier responded to a question about his government’s plan to divide Bengal by saying, “decision will be taken keeping in mind the people’s sentiments”. Pramanik accompanied Rai when the latter filed his nomination in the West Bengal assembly. The chatter for a new state is getting louder.

    Legislating for Lawmakers Cong may change stand on instant disqualification

    Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud’s comments last week that the courts cannot put a life ban on politicians who have been convicted and barred from contesting election has triggered discussion in the Congress on the disqualification issue. The CJI made the comment while hearing a petition on the period of disqualification filed in 2016. It was the Supreme Court’s decision in the Lily Thomas Vs Union of India case in 2013 that resulted in the instant disqualification of MPs, MLAs and MLCs, who are convicted in a criminal case for two years or more. The then Congress-led government had moved swiftly to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision by bringing in an ordinance. But it was thwarted by Rahul Gandhi who tore the ordinance in a press conference calling it “complete nonsense”. This forced the government not to pass a bill to turn the ordinance into law. The party’s opinion on the issue has, however, changed over time, primarily as it feels that “the ruling BJP was using flimsy grounds to get lawmakers disqualified”. Sources said Congress is now in sync with other opposition parties who plan to bring in laws to protect lawmakers from being targeted by the central government.

    Tension Within
    PMO denies extension to Gadkari’s key men in NHAI

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi-headed Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has rejected a proposal sent by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for extending the tenure of its two top officials – Member (Technical) Mahabir Singh and Member (Projects) Manoj Kumar. They look after the critical aspects of the NHAI, India’s largest road and bridge builder. Sources said Singh and Kumar are considered close to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. The NHAI, which functions under Gadkari’s ministry, had sought a two-year extension for these officers. Mahabir Singh was appointed NHAI’s Member (Technical) in July 2020 for three years. His term expires this month-end. Manoj Kumar’s term has also come to an end. According to sources, the Prime Minister’s Office was not happy with the performance of the two officers.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Pulling Apart 
    BJP’s RS pick brings focus on division of Bengal

    The BJP leadership’s choice of Ananta Rai Maharaj as its candidate to represent West Bengal in the Rajya Sabha has reignited the debate on the division of West Bengal and the formation of a separate state comprising some districts of north Bengal and Assam. Ananta Rai is a leader of Koch-Rajbanshis and has been a votary of a separate state of ‘Greater Cooch Behar”. Rai heads the Greater Cooch Behar People’s Association, working to carve out a separate state from Bengal.

    The BJP-led Union government is also in talks with Jibon Singha, chief of the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO). KLO has been engaged in an armed struggle to create a separate state comprising north Bengal districts. Several BJP legislators from north Bengal have openly backed the demand for the division of Bengal. Union Minister of State for home affairs Nisith Pramanik, an MP from north Bengal, had earlier responded to a question about his government’s plan to divide Bengal by saying, “decision will be taken keeping in mind the people’s sentiments”. Pramanik accompanied Rai when the latter filed his nomination in the West Bengal assembly. The chatter for a new state is getting louder.

    Legislating for Lawmakers 
    Cong may change stand on instant disqualification

    Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud’s comments last week that the courts cannot put a life ban on politicians who have been convicted and barred from contesting election has triggered discussion in the Congress on the disqualification issue. The CJI made the comment while hearing a petition on the period of disqualification filed in 2016. It was the Supreme Court’s decision in the Lily Thomas Vs Union of India case in 2013 that resulted in the instant disqualification of MPs, MLAs and MLCs, who are convicted in a criminal case for two years or more. The then Congress-led government had moved swiftly to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision by bringing in an ordinance. But it was thwarted by Rahul Gandhi who tore the ordinance in a press conference calling it “complete nonsense”. This forced the government not to pass a bill to turn the ordinance into law. The party’s opinion on the issue has, however, changed over time, primarily as it feels that “the ruling BJP was using flimsy grounds to get lawmakers disqualified”. Sources said Congress is now in sync with other opposition parties who plan to bring in laws to protect lawmakers from being targeted by the central government.

  • Regular watch to ensure completion of highways: Ministry of road transport and Highways

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: With a significant number of national highway projects lagging behind schedule due to a lack of inter-ministerial coordination, the Ministry of road transport and Highways (MoRTH) is setting up an ‘institutional mechanism’ for better synergy and regular monitoring to expedite their completion.

    The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been entrusted with the responsibility to collate information and coordinate with relevant stakeholders, said officials. “Inter-ministerial coordination issues are major impediments which cause several road projects to get stuck or delayed. To ensure expeditious and effective resolution of such inter-ministerial, the MoRTH is in the process of setting up of an institutional mechanism for monthly thereof pertaining to projects handled by three wings viz Ring Wing (of MoRTH), NHAI, and National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL),” read a note of the NHAI.

    In December 2022, the ministry, in response to a question pertaining to the delayed national highway projects, stated that 719 projects are hanging fire due to ‘various’ reasons. It further informed that 438 projects were expected to be completed in the current financial year.

    Union Minister of road transport and Highways Nitin Gadakri in February stated in Lok Sabha that 1,486 national highways (NHs) projects with a cumulative length of about 38,000 km are at various stages of completion and being implemented by different agencies of his ministry.

    According to the officials, regional officers (ROs) of the Authority will identify and flag the pending issues leading to the delay. The officers will also ensure regular updates or upload the concerns and their status on the project management group (PMG) portal by the 15th of every month so that the development could be monitored by the Prime Minister’s Office.

    Based on the details of the issue impeding the project’s progress, the agenda will be prepared and prepared before the concerned Committee for review. The PMG is an arrangement under the Department of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), for the expedited resolution of issues and regulatory bottlenecks in projects with investments upward of `500 crore. It was set up as a special cell in the Cabinet Secretariat in 2013 and was subsequently brought under the administrative control of the PMO in 2015.

    After a review of the issues, a final report will be sent to the coordination division for further monthly monitoring to the additional secretary (highways) of the MoRTH so that the matter could be taken up with the respective ministries, officials added. 

    DPIIT arrangement to ovesee projectsThe PMG is an arrangement under the Department of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), for the expedited resolution of issues and regulatory bottlenecks in projects with investments upward `500 crore. It was set up as a special cell in the Cabinet Secretariat in 2013 and was subsequently brought under the administrative control of the PMO in 2015.

    NEW DELHI: With a significant number of national highway projects lagging behind schedule due to a lack of inter-ministerial coordination, the Ministry of road transport and Highways (MoRTH) is setting up an ‘institutional mechanism’ for better synergy and regular monitoring to expedite their completion.

    The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been entrusted with the responsibility to collate information and coordinate with relevant stakeholders, said officials. “Inter-ministerial coordination issues are major impediments which cause several road projects to get stuck or delayed. To ensure expeditious and effective resolution of such inter-ministerial, the MoRTH is in the process of setting up of an institutional mechanism for monthly thereof pertaining to projects handled by three wings viz Ring Wing (of MoRTH), NHAI, and National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL),” read a note of the NHAI.

    In December 2022, the ministry, in response to a question pertaining to the delayed national highway projects, stated that 719 projects are hanging fire due to ‘various’ reasons. It further informed that 438 projects were expected to be completed in the current financial year.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Union Minister of road transport and Highways Nitin Gadakri in February stated in Lok Sabha that 1,486 national highways (NHs) projects with a cumulative length of about 38,000 km are at various stages of completion and being implemented by different agencies of his ministry.

    According to the officials, regional officers (ROs) of the Authority will identify and flag the pending issues leading to the delay. The officers will also ensure regular updates or upload the concerns and their status on the project management group (PMG) portal by the 15th of every month so that the development could be monitored by the Prime Minister’s Office.

    Based on the details of the issue impeding the project’s progress, the agenda will be prepared and prepared before the concerned Committee for review. The PMG is an arrangement under the Department of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), for the expedited resolution of issues and regulatory bottlenecks in projects with investments upward of `500 crore. It was set up as a special cell in the Cabinet Secretariat in 2013 and was subsequently brought under the administrative control of the PMO in 2015.

    After a review of the issues, a final report will be sent to the coordination division for further monthly monitoring to the additional secretary (highways) of the MoRTH so that the matter could be taken up with the respective ministries, officials added. 

    DPIIT arrangement to ovesee projects
    The PMG is an arrangement under the Department of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), for the expedited resolution of issues and regulatory bottlenecks in projects with investments upward `500 crore. It was set up as a special cell in the Cabinet Secretariat in 2013 and was subsequently brought under the administrative control of the PMO in 2015.

  • NHAI built 75km NH road in record time, enters Guinness World Record

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has created a Guinness World Record of constructing the longest highway stretch of 75 kilometres (km) between Amravati and Akola in the least time–105 hours and 33 minutes. The newly constructed road is part of National Highway 53.

    A team of 800 employees of NHAI and 720 workers of a private company including independent consultants were involved to complete the task in record time. The work to build the road in record time started on June 3 at around seven in the morning and it was successfully completed on June 7 at 5:00 pm.

    “Proud Moment For The Entire Nation! Feel very happy to congratulate our exceptional Team @NHAI_Official, Consultants & Concessionaire, Rajpath Infracon Pvt Ltd & Jagdish Kadam, on achieving the Guinness World Record (@GWR) of laying 75 Km continuous Bituminous Concrete Road …in a single lane on NH-53 section between Amravati and Akola. I would specially thank our Engineers & Workers who toiled day & night to achieve this extraordinary feat. #PragatiKaHighway #GatiShakti @narendramodi  @PMOIndia,” union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari tweeted on Wednesday morning.

    The Amravati –Akola section is the part of National Highway-53 and an important East-West corridor, he said.  Passing through the mineral-rich region, the section connects major cities like Kolkata, Raipur, Nagpur, Akola, Dhule and Surat.

    With the feat, the NHAI has beat the record of the Public Works Authority — Ashghal– in Qatar, which was registered on February 27, 2019. The road was part of the Al-Khor Expressway, which was completed in 10 days, informed the Gadkari.

    “The vision of #NewIndia is being built on your perseverance & sweat. The whole nation is proud  Keep up the great work! #Pratishtha #GatiShakti,” the minister also tweeted.

  • Himachal Pradesh High Court seeks reply from NHAI over collection of toll at Sanwara plaza in Solan

    By PTI

    SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Tuesday sought a reply from the National Highways Authority of India with regard to the alleged illegal collection of toll at the Sanwara plaza in Solan district.

    Adit Singal in a PIL alleged that the toll plaza at Sanwara was set up contrary to the National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.

    The petitioner stated that as per rules, no toll Plaza can be established in the same section within a distance of 60 km.

    Whereas other toll plazas are situated at Parwanoo in Solan district and in Chandimandir of Haryana’s Panchkula district, within 60 km from the Sanwara toll plaza, the petitioner said.

    The petition further alleged that the people who do not have the fast-tag facility are being charged double.

    A Division Bench of Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to make submission in this regard.

    The next hearing will be held on April 27.

  • Centre effects major bureaucratic reshuffle, Alka Upadhyaya appointed NHAI chief

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Senior bureaucrat Alka Upadhyaya has been appointed as the chairperson of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) as part of a major bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the Centre on Saturday.

    Upadhyaya, a 1990-batch IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, is currently Additional Secretary, Department of Rural Development.

    Sanjay Bandopadhyay, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, has been named chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India, a Personnel Ministry order said.

    Dharmendra S Gangwar, Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, will be Secretary, Department of Border Management, and Sundeep Kumar Nayak has been appointed as Director General, National Productivity Council, Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade.

    Upma Srivastava, a 1988-batch IAS officer of Sikkim cadre, has been named Secretary, National Commission for Scheduled Castes.

    Juthika Patankar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, has been appointed as Secretary, Central Information Commission.

    Anita Praveen, Special Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, will be Special Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries.

    She will take over as Secretary of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries upon superannuation of Pushpa Subramanyam next month-end.

    Amit Yadav, Director General, Directorate General of Foreign Trade, has been moved as Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, the order said.

    Ashish Srivastava, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, has been appointed Additional Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat.

    G Asok Kumar, Mission Director, National Water Mission, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, will be Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga.

    Neelam Shammi Rao has been appointed as Central Provident Fund Commissioner, Employees’ Provident Fund Organization, Amit Agrawal will be Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, and Deepti Umashankar as Establishment Officer & Additional Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training.

    Vivek Aggarwal, Additional Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Department of Revenue.

    Hari Ranjan Rao, Joint Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, will now be Additional Secretary, Department of Telecommunications.

    Shyamal Misra, a 1996-batch IAS officer of Haryana cadre, has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Home, Ministry of Home Affairs.

    He is currently Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce.

  • Centre asks NHAI, automakers to tighten IT security after cyber attack threats

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Sunday alerted NHAI, NHIDCL and its other wings besides automobile makers to augment their IT security systems after reports regarding threats of possible cyber attacks targeted at the Indian transport sector.

    The ministry said it has received an alert from the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) about possible cyber attacks.

    “The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways received an alert from CERT-In regarding targeted intrusion activities directed towards Indian Transport sector with possible malicious intentions. The Ministry has advised departments and organisations under transport sector to strengthen the security posture of their infrastructure,” the Ministry said in a statement.

    It has requested NIC, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), Indian Road Congress (IRC), Indian Academy of Highway Engineers (IAHE), State PWDs, Testing agencies and Automobile manufacturers to conduct the security audit of the entire IT system by CERT-In certified agencies.

    It advised such security audits on a regular basis besides taking all actions as per their recommendations.

    Also it asked the audit report and the action taken report to be regularly submitted to the ministry.

    Last year in June also NHAI has reported a cyber attack on its email server and had said that prompt action resulted in no data loss.

    It had shut down its server then as a precaution.

  • NHAI will use customised software for tracking staff

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will use specific software to keep track of files to monitor officials who cause delays in disposing them off.  

    “Red tape will no longer be tolerated… Delayed decision-making results in losses. To eradicate red-tape, we will be bringing a software that will specifically detect how much time one particular official has taken in disposing of any file,” he said.

    Gadkari had warned officials that it was time to show the exit door to non-performing assets complicating and delaying projects by creating obstacles.

    According to Gadkari, the use of the software is a part of measures to boost the operational efficiency and transparency of the NHAI. In June last year, the NHAI had become the first construction sector organisation to go fully digital with cloud-based Data Lake Software.

    Noting that he held several meetings with NHAI chairman SS Sandhu and Highways secretary Giridhar Aramane, Gadkari said many proposals have been made to increase the efficiency of the NHAI. “Work should happen timely, corruption-free, in a time-bound manner and efficiently.

    Those who do not take timely decisions will be tracked,” Gadkari said. He admitted there have been many obstacles in enforcing reforms but said the ministry is overcoming them quickly. “I take pride that work worth `17 lakh crore was done by Ministries during the NDA-1 regime without any corruption.”