Transport Ministry mulling to procure aircraft for monitoring road construction

NEW DELHI: The road transport and highways ministry is exploring the option to procure a small fixed-wing aircraft and a chopper through its two agencies - National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation ( NHIDCL).

Sources said while the fixed-wing aircraft could be bought by NHAI for its use across the country, NHIDCL could procure the chopper for use in the north-east region. The move comes at a time when the ministry has set higher target for highway construction. So far only one PSU — Steel Authority of India (SAIL) — has an aircraft.

Officials said that this move will help in better monitoring of ongoing works and also to assess the road condition across the country. "There is a need to undertake frequent monitoring exercise from the headquarters though there are also regional offices across the country," said a ministry official.