The Cabinet secretariat is understood to be against an extension of the tenure of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) chairman post.
The government had fixed the tenure of the post-holder at five years and started the search for a successor of current NHAI chairman Brijeshwar Singh early this year. The maximum age was also increased from 62 to 65 years. Earlier, a chairman of NHAI could hold office for a minimum of three years, extendable to five years.
The tenure was extended to avoid frequent changes on the top. The government felt this could slow down the highway development programme. The regime of TR Baalu?Kamal Nath?s predecessor?had seen five chairmen in four years. The longest term was served by N Gokulram, who held the position for just over a year.
Sources told FE that Cabinet secretariat?s objection is motivated by the fact that even cabinet secretary could have a maximum tenure of four years only, as approved by Cabinet in July. Moreover, there is not many precedents for a 5-year term for a secretary-level position?NHAI chairman is of the rank of secretary.
?No NHAI chief has seen such a long term in the past. Only Prasar Bharati CEO has a fixed tenure of five years and that too has been given only last year. Moreover, the tenure is not something that will make the body work more efficiently. The deciding factor will be how much freedom is given to the authority,? an NHAI official said.
Meanwhile, the government is considering downgrading the rank of NHAI chairman from secretary to additional secretary. ?If such a move is made, the government should also bring a change in our board. At present, the government is represented by three secretary-level officials on the board. The government should reduce this to one,? another official said.