Transparency, audit to bolster highways sector growth: Gadkari

A transparent decision making process, coupled with decentralisation of power and a performance audit, is set to bolster the growth of country's highways sector, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said today.

"A quick and transparent decision making process, backed by decentralised power structure and a system of performance audit would go a long way in ensuring that departments are able to achieve the development work that they set out to do," the Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister said here.

Gadkari was speaking at a ceremony in which the Road Transport and Highways Ministry acquired ISO 9001:2008 Certificate from Indian Register Quality Systems (IRQS).

The ministry is probably one of the large ministries of central government to achieve this feat.

It acquired the certification for monitoring, planning, development and maintenance of highways infrastructure and road transport throughout the country.

Gadkari underscored the importance of administrative efficiency as most vital ingredient for the successful working of an organisation.

The ISO certificate will be applicable to all the wings of the Ministry at the headquarters at New Delhi, including the offices of the Union Minister and the Minister of State, covering more than 700 employees.

International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) is an internationally recognised and preferred quality management system standard that enables one to demonstrate commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

Implementation of ISO 9001:2008 was started in 2012-13.

In order to get the ISO certificate, the Ministry developed its Quality Manual and Standard Operating Procedures in accordance with the requirements of ISO standards.

After internal audit by the Ministry, the certificating body appointed by Quality Council of India conducted two stage audit and found the quality management system of the Ministry for performing its services in accordance with the ISO standards.