Govt. to review dispute resolution mechanism for NHAI projects

New Delhi, May 22 (UNI) Determined to put the National Highways projects on a fast track, the government today said it had set up a committee to review the dispute resolution mechanism for the National Highway Authority of India's (NHAI) development projects.

The Committee will suggest an effective mechanism and submit its report within a month, Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Minister T R Baalu announced here today. The Committee, headed by the Secretary, Road Transport and Highways, will have representatives from various Ministries, technical and management experts, consultants and contractors.

Addressing all the stakeholders in NHAI projects, including officials of various ministries, consultants and contractors, Mr Baalu said his ministry is also considering setting up of an alternative dispute resolution forum comprising legal, technical and management experts.

''Concerned parties can approach the proposed independent forum to sort out issues and resolve the dispute out of the court,'' he said, expressing the hope that these steps would help in speedy implementation of the NHAI projects.

Mr Baalu expressed concern over delay in some of the National Highway Development Programme (NHDP-I) projects due to various disputes.

The NHDP Phase-I or the Golden Quadrilateral, which seeks to connect the four metros of Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai, has already missed its completion target by nearly a year.

He said all possible steps must be taken to solve the dispute and to expedite the road projects.

The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Shipping, Road Transport and K H Muniyappa, senior officials of the ministry, NHAI consultants and contractors working for the highways projects.

UNI/SKS SB HT1602