Aiming total transparency in highways deals, sector regulator NHAI today made a debut on social networking site Facebook eliciting responses from users on various issues.

NHAI's appearance on Facebook with photographs of a toll plaza at Dharwad, a bridge at Barwa and two highways (Delhi-Jaipur and Vijaywada-Eluru) immediately drew attention 34 users who posted their comments.

The National High Authority of India (NHAI) embracing Facebook is a brainchild of the new Highways Minister CP Joshi who has vowed to introduce transparency in the sector.

"Soon the road ministry would also be put on the website for which all preparations are afoot. The minister is likely to formally inaugurate both the sites soon," a road ministry official told PTI.

"To meet the nation?s need for the provision and maintenance of national highways network to global standards and to meet users' expectations in the most time-bound and cost effective manner, within the strategic policy framework set by the GoI and thus promote economic well being...of the people," says NHAI's profile.

Disclosing the Facebook plans, Joshi had said yesterday that the general public has every right to know developments in the transport sector.

"They can lodge their complaints in case of irregularities and advise the ministry for introducing reforms," Joshi had said.

Soon updates on NHAI activities will be available on Facebook, including information on its targets and achievements.

The road ministry has also plans to use Google Earth to assess the performance of the sector, including claims by executing agencies of laying road networks and their maintenance have been met, besides assessing the quality of roads.