Panel to clear highway projects less than Rs 5 bn

Highway projects worth costing less than Rs 500 crore may be approved by the Standing Finance Committee chaired by the union road transport and highways secretary. A proposal to this effect was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) recently. A statement released by CCEA said the committee will clear all projects less than Rs 500 crore, except those to be cleared by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Presently, CCEA clears projects worth Rs 500 crore or above. These big projects would now be appraised by a committee chaired by secretary (expenditure) or the Public-Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC), while the approval will be given by CCEA in accordance with extant guidelines and instructions.