Former Road Secy Gujral is external monitor for highway projs

R S Gujral, former Road Transport and Highways Secretary, has been appointed as an external independent monitor for government-funded highways projects worth Rs 100 crore.
"The Ministry has appointed former Highways Secretary Gujral as an external independent monitor for ensuring transparency and competitiveness in Ministry's projects entailing over Rs 100 crore investment," an official said.
Apart from ensuring transparency in over Rs 100 crore projects by the Ministry, the independent monitor would be responsible for ensuring transparency in award of consultancy work over Rs 5 crore, he said.
"The central vigilance commission (CVC) has selected the name of Gujral from a panel of candidates," he said, adding that the ministry approved his name later.

Government has asked institutions to adopt integrity pact and appoint independent external monitors to check corruption and accordingly it has been done, he added.
The concept of Integrity Pact (IP) envisages an agreement between the prospective vendors or bidders and the buyer committing the persons or officials of both the parties not to exercise any corrupt influence on any aspect of a procurement contract.
Gujral took over as Road Transport and Highways Secretary in 2010 and superannuated in 2013. A 1976 batch IAS officer of the Haryana cadre, he served on various top posts including as Revenue Secretary and Director General Foreign Trade.