Ministers meet to fast-track infra projects

NEW DELHI: A high powered committee headed by telecom secretary and consisting of secretary road transport and highways, power, petroleum and member (engineering) rail board has been formed to look into modalities of government to government sharing of infrastructure for setting up utilities such water pipes, telecom and power cables and national highways.

The group of infrastructure chaired by road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday decided that these ministries would enter into an MoU to the effect that they would not charge each other for setting up projects as the payment is only government to government.

The move is aimed at fast-tracking projects by cutting down processes, a government official said.


The meeting was attended by rail and coal minister Piyush Goyal, minister of State (MOS) for telecom Manoj Sinha, environment minister Dr Harshvardhan and MOS for power R K Singh.

The group on infrastructure also decided to fast track environment clearances to 12 national highway projects including Mumbai-Ahmadabad expressway.