Panel to monitor WB-funded road projects

NEW DELHI: The government has decided to set up an expert panel to monitor World Bank-funded road sector projects implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

The proposed committee will have independent professionals from finance, legal and technical streams. The move comes after World Bank in an audit report pointed at deficiencies in execution of highway projects due to 'weak internal controls.'

"It is proposed that the committee should be headed by a retired secretary rank official," a road transport ministry official who did not wish to be named said. The prime minister���s office (PMO) has asked the ministry to take immediate measures to improve the functioning of NHAI.

PMO in a communication to the surface transport ministry said that NHAI should closely monitor the progress made in all World Bank-funded projects.