In major recast, National Highway agencies likely to get dedicated cadre

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

These changes will make National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corp Ltd (NHIDCL) operate more like Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) that do not have frequent transfers of officers from parent ministries. It is also expected to eliminate the culture of having a senior bureaucrat at the top, allowing cadre officers to climb to the highest rung of the organizational ladder. «A sense of ownership needs to be developed within NHAI and NHIDCL officers,» a top government official told ET, adding that plans are underway to alter the composition of these central agencies.

Both NHAI and NHICL are the primary arms of the government tasked with constructing national highway projects. According to official estimates, NHAI presently has 905 regular staffers. Of them, 258 are on deputation from various state governments, Public Work Departments (PWDs), Military Engineering Services (MES), Border Roads Organisation, and the Centre.

Among Group A officers, there are 557 on the NHAI rolls while 251 are on deputation. Of this, 84 are from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). «Around one-third of NHAI staff is on deputation.

There are vacancies of around 500 more, which will also need to be filled by the deputation route,» a second senior official said, adding that the manpower shortage is regularly being flagged. These officers would oversee the expenditure of ₹1.62 lakh crore allocated to NHAI for road building during the financial year 2023-24. «NHAI is inducting officers as Deputy Managers.