Centre considers splitting up road transport and highways ministry

Realising the need to have a more focused approach to tackle issues related to road safety, the Centre has proposed to bifurcate the road transport and highways ministry into separate departments, headed by two secretaries.

While one department would handle issues related to road safety and vehicular standards, the other would be responsible for framing and implementing policies related to highways development.

At present, the two fall under the ministry of road transport and highways, which is headed by one secretary. Union minister Nitin Gadkari holds the charge of the ministry.

Sources said there will be one ministry even after bifurcation but there would be two departments, each headed by a secretary. The proposed road transport department would also have three joint secretaries to handle motor vehicle license, transport and road safety and six directors.

“A committee of secretaries has approved the proposal. We will now move the finance ministry to get the proposal cleared by the Expenditure Finance Committee before going to the cabinet for final approval,” said a road transport and highways ministry official. Sources said the idea to carve out a separate department was first mooted by Gadkari. “It was felt that the existing setup was not adequate to handle such a crucial sector. Not only is there a shortage of staff but they do not have the requisite expertise,” said a ministry official. A specialised department would be better equipped to make policy interventions required to address issues related to road safety, transport and vehicle standards, the official added.