Indianmandarins has reliably learned that the seven-member Search Committee for NHAI interviewed candidates to fill three posts of Member (Private Public Partnership), Member (Projects) and Member (Technical). The interviews were reportedly held at the Cabinet Secretariat.

Reportedly, 18 candidates had applied for the post of Member (PPP) whereas 19 candidates for Member (Technical) and 14 candidates for Member (Project). It may be mentioned that Member (PPP) post fell vacant months back following the repatriation of Neeraj Verma (IAS:1995:AM). The post of Member (Project) fell vacant following the repatriation (on completion of tenure) of Anand Kumar Singh last month whereas D O Tawade, Member (Technical) will complete his tenure May this year.

The Search Committee for NHAI is comprised of Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha, DoPT Secretary C Chandramauli (IAS:1985:TN), MoRTH Secretary Y S Malik (IAS:1983:HY), DEA Secretary S C Garg (IAS:1983:RJ), newly appointed NHAI Chairman N agendra Nath Sinha (IAS:1987:JH), IIM (Ahmedabad) Director Prof Errol D’ Souza and NABARD Chairman Harsh Kumar Bhanwala.

As per the established norms, the minutes of the meeting and recommended names will be sent to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet for ratification. Reportedly, the final results are expected to be out by the third week of this month.