PM sets up committee to advise on expediting road projects

New Delhi, Aug 9 (PTI) With road projects facing hurdles,
India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has constituted a
committee to recommend ways to expedite them and make them
attractive for banks and private investors amid the global
recession.

The decision was taken at the Prime Minister-chaired
meeting held Saturday to review the Transport Ministry's
ambitious plan of developing 35,000 km of National Highways in
the next five years.

The committee, to be headed by Planning Commission member
B K Chaturvedi, will submit its report to the Prime Minister
in two weeks, an official release said here.

The committee's terms of reference to suggest ways to
expedite the process of executing the road projects assume
significance as India's Road Transport Minister Kamal Nath
expressed concern at the meeting over the long time-frame
required for road project implementation.

He pointed out that the current process takes almost
three years for work to start from the conception of a road
project and another three years for the project to get
completed.

At the meeting, also attended by country's Finance
Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Planning Commission Deputy
Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Nath said road development is
an economic stimulus that creates permanent assets.

The panel will also give recommendations on how to
address the concerns of developers regarding some clauses in
agreements.

These clauses relate to terminating contracts, conflict
of interest, etc.

The committee will also suggest ways to make the dispute
settlement process at the National Highways Authority of India
(NHAI) faster and more effective.

"It will also suggest a fast track mechanism for
resolution of inter-ministerial issues not requiring CCI's
(Competition Commission of India) approval and to monitor
progress on a regular basis for a mid-course correction," the
release said here.

The other terms of reference of the committee include
restructuring four-six lane projects based on traffic
requirements and ensuring inclusive and equitable growth, the
release said. PTI IND
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