NHAI delegates fiscal powers to reduce delays in projects

The government on Tuesday announced new measure for speedy execution of highway projects.

According to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), financial powers have been delegated to its regional officers to demolish structures that fall within the right-of-way of development projects.

"In order to ensure faster execution of projects, NHAI has delegated powers to its regional officers for hiring of equipment and labourers up to Rs.10 lakh per project, to demolish structures that fall within the right-of-way of the project," the ministry of road transport and highways said in a statement.

"As some of the contracts had no provision for demolition of such structures, there would often be protracted correspondence between the contractors, project directors and NHAI headquarters before these could be removed, often leading to delay in execution of projects."

The statement said that with the delegation of financial powers to regional officers, NHAI will be able to make encumbrance free land available more speedily to the contractors.

"NHAI is keen to remove all hurdles for speedy execution of highway projects. This is just one step in a series of delegation of powers at regional level," the statement said.

Recently, NHAI delegated powers for construction of foot-overbridges under change of scope up to Rs.80 lakh and for four- and six-laning projects up to Rs.1 crore respectively.

Similarly, regional officers have been delegated the power for maintenance of highways requiring urgent repair works up to Rs.1 crore.

"CGM (T) (Chief General Managers (Technical)) jointly with regional officers have also been delegated power for shifting of transmission lines, electric lines and water pipelines, and other utilities up to Rs.10 crore and Rs.5 crore respectively," the statement added.

"All these steps are expected to cut down delays in completion of projects."

--IANS

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