The ministries of shipping and roads and highways, after existing as separate bodies for four years, are set to be brought under the same ministry of transport.
T R Baalu, in charge of both the portfolios, is likely to approach the cabinet secretary soon, seeking a merger of the two ministries.
According to officials, Baalu would, however, not disturb the existing setup. They indicated that he would be asking for two separate departments -- shipping and surface transport -- under the ministry. The finance ministry also has various departments functioning under it.
In fact, shipping and roads and highways were handled by the surface transport ministry till 2000, when the National Democratic Alliance government, under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, bifurcated it.
B C Khanduri was made the roads and highways minister, while Arun Jaitley was given the additional charge of the shipping ministry. Later, Shatrughan Sinha was made the shipping minister.
Baalu, who was initially given the charge of the roads and highways ministry, was later given the shipping ministry after his party, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, showed its resentment over not being given the promised portfolios.
The situation was diffused when Chandrashekhar Rao offered to give up the shipping portfolio.
The Congress party gave in to the DMK's demands and Baalu was handed over both the ministries.
With the merger, this ministry will probably oversee the ambitious infrastructural projects that have been lined up.
Whether it is the Rs 54,000 crore (Rs 540 billion) National Highway Development Programme for four- and six-laning of the national highways or the Rs 100,000 crore (Rs 1,000 billion) Sagarmala project for the integrated development of the maritime sector, huge investments will be required.
While the NHDP programme is under way, the Sagarmala still needs the approval of the Cabinet.
Clubbed view
- The minister may ask for two separate departments -- the shipping department and the surface transport department -- under the road transport ministry.
- Shipping and roads was handled by the ministry of surface transport till 2000, when the NDA government under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee bifurcated it.
- Baalu was initially given the charge of roads ministry but later given the shipping ministry after his party, the DMK, showed resentment.
