(The Gist of PIB) Shekatkar Committee recommendations

[JUNE-2020]

Government has accepted and implemented three important recommendations of the Committee of Experts (CoE) under the Chairmanship of Lt General D B Shekatkar (Retd) relating to border Infrastructure.

Government has implemented recommendations of CoE to outsource road construction work beyond the optimal capacity of Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
It has been made mandatory to adopt Engineering Procurement Contract (EPC) mode for execution of all works costing more than Rs 100 crore.
The other recommendation relating to the introduction of modern construction plants, equipment, and machinery have been implemented by delegating enhanced procurement powers from Rs 7.5 crore to Rs 100 crore to BRO, for domestic and foreign procurements.
Border Roads has recently inducted Hot-Mix Plant 20/30 TPH for the speedier laying of roads, remotely operated hydraulic Rock Drills DC-400 R for hard rock cutting, a range of F-90 series of self-propelled snow-cutters/blowers for speedier snow clearance.
The land acquisition and all statutory clearances like forest and environmental clearance are also made part of the approval of the Detailed Project Report (DPR). It is mandatory to award work only when 90 percent of the statutory clearances have been obtained.