The hunt for a suitable candidate to fill a key position at the National Highways Authority of India has got more intense with 30 candidates in the fray. Interviews for the post of Member (Public-Private Partnership) are likely to get over in the next few days. The national highways body has the largest number of public-private partnerships under its portfolio.

Among the contenders, six — B.S. Singla, Rajnandan Kumar Singh, D.O. Tawade, M.P. Sharma, Atul Kumar and G. Suresh — are from the highways authority itself .

Other officials in the race are from the Konkan Railway Corporation (Rajesh Tripathi), the Indian Meteorological Department (Awadhesh Kumar), the State Government of Punjab (Gurcharan Singh), and the Eastern Railways (Gunanand Jha).

Sudhir Kumar, who served as Officer on Special Duty during Lalu Prasad’s tenure as Railway Minister, is also a contender.

A committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary, with members including Secretary, the Road Transport Ministry, and the Nabard Chairman will select the candidate.

The process, which was initiated last year too, was cancelled due to some disagreement at the Highway Ministry level. It was set rolling again this year, with July 10 being the last date for submission of applications.

The delay in the implementation of many PPP projects in the highways sector makes this a key vacancy . Larsen & Toubro, ITNL, GMR, GVK, Ashoka Buildcon, and Madhucon are the key players who have projects under the PPP route with the highways body.

mamuni.das@thehindu.co.in

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