NEW DELHI: National Highways Authority of India NHAI ) will now adopt new project execution mechanism to reduce delays by appointing project management consultants (PMCs) who will be responsible from conceptualization of projects to making DPRs and from obtaining clearances to supervising construction and maintenance.The highways authority has been facing the uphill task of timely completion of projects due to delays attributed to non-availability of land, statutory approvals and inadequate detailed project reports (DPRs). Additional works in the ongoing projects is primarily because of poor or inadequate DPRs.According to government data, nearly 61% of the ongoing projects are delayed.The NHAI and highway ministry has floated a draft document for engaging PMCs for each project or package with the objective to make one agency responsible to establish the technical, economical and financial viability of the project. It will also prepare feasibility report, DPR and will carry out pre-construction activities. Once the project starts it will supervise construction to ensure quality work. It will be responsible for carrying out road safety audits.“This is being done to fix accountability. There is a provision for penalty on the consultants for poor performance or deficiency in service,” said an official.Giving a suggestive example, the draft document available says the PMC may get eight and half years contract - 10 months for DPR, eight months for preconstruction activity, 24 months for construction and five years for maintenance.“However if after finalisation of DPR, if the project has not been awarded within 2.5 years then the consultant is free to exit from the PMC work,” the document says.To ensure the PMCs visit the sites, the document specifies that they shall give details of site as per actual site visit by submitting photographs.