“Since expenditure secretary, economic affairs secretary and road secretary are all there in the NHAI Board, what is the need of forming committees after committees for project approvals? There is no problem in giving powers to NHAI Board,” Gadkari said.

Currently, NHAI needs to get approval of the Cabinet for each and every project that it intends to award for construction.

Sources said following the proposed empowerment, NHAI may not require taking government permission for project-specific approvals (approval might be given in bunches) and the route through which it intends the project to be developed.

Gadkari said the PM wanted to vet the proposal and has asked the road ministry to send the proposal in detail. Following the PM’s approval, the proposal would be sent to the Cabinet for its nod.

NHAI was constituted through the passage of National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988. It became operational in February, 1995.

A white paper, released by the road transport ministry soon after the Modi dispensation took over, had pitched for giving greater powers and restoring the diluted functional autonomy to revive the stalled road sector.

Stating that empowering NHAI would be crucial to actualise the highways development target—41 km/day for the current fiscal—Gadkari said he believes it can perform “miracles” in the years to come.

Of the 15,000-km construction target fixed for the current fiscal, NHAI has been asked to develop 8,000 km. Again, of the 25,000-km project award target, NHAI has been entrusted with awarding of 15,000 km highway projects.