MoRTH decides to end deputation culture in highway building sector Breakthrough

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) plans to overhaul the road construction sector, including NHAI and NHIDCL, to address corruption and faulty construction reports. The move will create a dedicated cadre for executive promotion and reshape the government’s operations. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has announced a significant policy change aimed at reshaping the way India’s highway infrastructure projects are executed. The ministry has decided to end the long-standing deputation culture in the highway building sector, a move expected to improve efficiency, enhance accountability, and strengthen the sector’s institutional capabilities.

Understanding Deputation Culture in Highway Projects

This decision comes at a time when India is pushing for record-breaking road construction targets and needs a robust, skilled, and dedicated workforce to achieve them. In the context of highway development, deputation refers to the practice of bringing in officers and engineers from other government departments or agencies to temporarily work in the road sector. While this system provided flexibility in staffing, it also led to challenges such as a lack of continuity, diluted accountability, and limited sector-specific expertise. Over-reliance on deputation meant that many highway agencies lacked a permanent workforce deeply familiar with modern road engineering and project management practices. (Highway Project)

Why MoRTH is Ending Deputation Culture

1. Lack of Long-Term Commitment – Deputed officers often serve short tenures, affecting project continuity.
2. Skill Gaps – Specialists in advanced highway engineering, project financing, and digital monitoring are in short supply.
3. Accountability Issues – Temporary postings make it harder to assign responsibility for delays or quality concerns.

Strengthening In-House Expertise

The ministry plans to recruit and train engineers, project managers, and technical experts directly under highway agencies like National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL). This permanent workforce will be better equipped with knowledge of modern construction technologies, contract management, and environmental compliance. Additionally, MoRTH is expected to roll out training programs in collaboration with top engineering institutions and global infrastructure organizations.

Ending deputation is likely to bring both short-term adjustments and long-term gains. In the immediate future, agencies may face staffing shortages as deputed officers return to their parent departments. However, over time, the creation of a dedicated in-house workforce will lead to faster decision-making, higher construction quality, and better cost control. For large-scale projects such as the Bharatmala Pariyojana and Gati Shakti Master Plan, a stable team of experts will ensure better risk management and adherence to timelines. (Road Transport)

Accountability and Performance Monitoring

With permanent staffing, it becomes easier to track performance and hold individuals accountable for project outcomes. MoRTH also plans to integrate performance-linked incentives, ensuring that engineers and managers have clear motivation to meet targets and maintain quality. This will likely reduce the instances of project delays and cost overruns that have plagued the sector in the past. While the move has strong potential benefits, it will require careful planning to avoid disruptions. The transition must be managed to ensure ongoing projects are not delayed due to staffing changes. Additionally, MoRTH will need to ensure competitive salaries and career growth opportunities to attract and retain top talent in the sector.

The Road Ahead

MoRTH’s decision marks a paradigm shift in how India’s highway sector is managed. With record highway construction targets and ambitious infrastructure goals under schemes like PM Gati Shakti, this reform could be the key to faster, safer, and more efficient roads across the country. The success of this policy will depend on how effectively the ministry recruits, trains, and retains a skilled workforce dedicated to nation-building through better highways.