Parliamentary financial committee wants to bring NHAI under its oversight
At a recently-held meeting in New Delhi, the Committee on Public Undertakings – which is a key Parliamentary financial committee – floated the idea of bringing the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) under its supervision.
About the proposal to bring the NHAI under its oversight, the Committee heard out the standpoints of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs at its recent meeting.
Since the NHAI – which currently works under the Ministry of Roads – used to appear before the Committee till a few years back, the Committee put forth the proposal that the NHAI, like other public undertakings, should also be brought under the Committee’s oversight.
However, the NHAI has opposed the Committee’s idea. The Authority has asserted that it is not covered under the Fourth Schedule of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, and that it generates little profit. The Authority also said that it receives the funds for creating infrastructure from the government.
Nonetheless, the viewpoint which has been put forth by the Committee with regard to the proposal to bring the NHAI under its oversight is apparently being substantiated by the Roads Ministry which has pointed out that the functioning of the NHAI automatically comes under the Committee’s preview because it is covered by the Standing Committee on Transport.
Source – The Hindu Business Line
Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, ministry of road transport and highways, National Highway Authority of India, NHAI
