Retiring babus vie for NHAI chief's job

NEW DELHI: The post of National Highways Authority of India ( NHAI) chairman seems to have lured top-ranking babus who are due for retirement soon. Barring one, all other applicants are due to retire this year or by early 2011.

Sources in the highways ministry said that till Wednesday (deadline for submitting applications), six secretary-rank officials had submitted their applications.

The applicants are sitting NHAI chairman Brijeshwar Singh, transport secretary Brahm Dutt, civil aviation secretary M Madhavan Nambiar, micro, small and medium enterprises secretary Dinesh Rai, secretary general of NHRC K S Money and director general of foreign trade Ramendra Singh Gujral.

While Gujral retires in 2013 and Money next February, all other applicants are due to retire in the next few months.

‘‘This is the best job for retiring babus since the tenure of NHAI chairman has now been fixed for five years,’’ a senior official in the highways ministry said.