Govt overhauls highway projects’ org to establish a specialised cadre

23 Aug 2023 CW Team

The government is contemplating a significant overhaul of the organisations responsible for executing highway projects, aiming to establish a specialised cadre within these agencies. This shift would facilitate the promotion of in-house executives to top leadership positions, departing from the prevailing approach of appointing officers on deputation to key roles.

These proposed modifications are intended to reshape the functioning of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corp (NHIDCL), making them function more akin to Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). This alteration would reduce the frequency of officer transfers from parent ministries, fostering a more stable operational environment.

Furthermore, these changes seek to eliminate the prevalent practice of having senior bureaucrats at the helm, thereby enabling cadre officers to ascend to the highest echelons of the organisational hierarchy.

A senior government official conveyed that there is a need to instil a sense of ownership among NHAI and NHIDCL officers. In line with this objective, plans are underway to revise the composition and structure of these central agencies.

Both NHAI and NHIDCL serve as the primary arms of the government for the execution of national highway projects.

As per official estimates, NHAI currently employs 905 regular staff members. Among them, 258 are officers on deputation from various state governments, Public Work Departments (PWDs), Military Engineering Services (MES), Border Roads Organisation, and the central government.

Within the Group A officer category, NHAI employs 557 officers as part of its core team, while 251 officers are on deputation. Notably, 84 officers hail from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

Technology

28 Oct 2025

Poonawalla Fincorp deploys five new AI solutions in digital drive

Poonawalla Fincorp Limited (PFL), a Cyrus Poonawalla Group-promoted non-banking financial company (NBFC) focused on consumer and MSME lending, has announced the launch of five new AI-powered solutions as part of its enterprise-wide digital transformation strategy. The new systems—Early Warning System (EWS), Travel Bot, RegIntel, Employee Relations (ER) Governance Tool, and AI-based Suspicious Transaction Reporting (STR)—aim to embed artificial intelligence across PFL’s core operations. This initiative goes beyond automation to create intelligent, scalable, and compliance-ready systems t..

HGS launches AI-driven Interaction Intelligence solution

Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS), listed on the BSE and NSE, has announced the launch of Interaction Intelligence—an enterprise-grade artificial intelligence (AI) solution built on the HGS Agent X framework. The platform redefines quality assurance (QA) by transforming it from a routine customer service task into a strategic capability that delivers actionable insights and deeper understanding of customer sentiment. In an era of growing customer expectations for seamless, personalised, and proactive engagement, the Interaction Intelligence solution enables enterprises to analyse nearly 100 pe..

Godrej Properties secures RERA nod for Worli luxury project

Godrej Properties Ltd (GPL), one of India’s leading real estate developers, has received project registration from the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) for its upcoming residential project, Godrej Trilogy, in Worli, Mumbai. The development forms part of a joint redevelopment of a prime land parcel in one of Mumbai’s most sought-after neighbourhoods. Spread across approximately 2.63 acres, the project will include three luxury towers. The total gross revenue potential of the development is estimated to exceed Rs 100 billion. Strategically located just off Dr Annie B..