National Highways Authority of India was set up by an act of the Parliament, NHAI Act, 1988 “An Act to provide for the constitution of an Authority for the development, maintenance and management of national highways and for matter connected therewith or incidental thereto”. It has been entrusted with National Highways Development Project, which along with other minor projects, has vested in it 50329 kms of National Highways for development, maintenance and management.
The total length of NH (including expressways) in the country at present is 1,32,499 kms. While Highways/Expressways constitute only about 1.7% of the length of all roads, they carry about 40% of the road traffic. One of the functions of NHAI is to implement National Highways Development Project (NHDP) which is India’s largest ever Highways Project in a phased manner.
Functions of NHAI
- To develop, maintain and manage National Highways vested in it by the Government.
- To collect fees on National Highways, regulate and control the plying of vehicles on National Highways for its proper management.
- To develop and provide consultancy and construction services in India and abroad and carry on research activities in relation to the development, maintenance and management of highways or any other facilities there at.
- To advise the Central Government on matters relating to highways.
- To assist on such terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed upon, any State Government in the formulation and implementation of schemes for highway development.
- Construct offices or workshops and establish and maintain hotels, motels, restaurants and rest-rooms at or near the highways
- Construct residential buildings and townships for its Employees
- Regulate and control the plying of vehicles on the highways
- Provide facilities and amenities for the users of the highways necessary for the smooth flow of traffic on such highways
Headquarters of NHAI
NHAI has a three-tier structure. The Headquarters (HQ), the Regional Offices (ROs) and the Project Implementation Units (PIUs). The Headquarters of National Highways Authority of India is situated at New Delhi.
Chairman of NHAI
The Authority consists of a Chairman and not more than six full-time and six part-time Members.
- Chairman and Members of the Authority are appointed by Central
- The four part-time (Govt) Members of the Authority include :
- Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
- Secretary, Department of Expenditure,
- Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs
- DG (Road Development) & Special Secretary, MoRTH
- The two part-time (non-Govt) members are to be appointed from the professionals having knowledge or experience of financial management, transportation planning or any other relevant discipline.
The current chairman of NHAI is Shri Nagendra Nath Sinha, IAS.
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