3-month deadline to appoint NHAI chief

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has stepped in to ensure that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) gets a full-time chairman. Sources in the highways ministry said that PM has set a three-month target to complete the selection process.
NHAI has been without a full-time chairman for about a year now. Brijeswar Singh was the last full-time chairman, who retired in last August. After retirement, he was given a four-month extension on contract basis, bereft of administrative powers. Since last December, the highways secretary has been holding the additional charge of NHAI chairman. The PM in his recent review meeting of the highways sector had stressed on the need for appointing a full-time chairman, and also on strengthening NHAI for speedier execution of projects.