What the secretary of ministry for road transport and highways proposes, the acting chairman of the national highway authority of India disposes. More surprisingly, it is one man, AK Upadhyay, who holds both the posts. As a secretary, he had ordered the NHAI to repatriate MP Sharma (chief general manager, technical, NHAI) and RC Palekar (general manager, electrical) before March 31, 2012. But as the acting chairman, Upadhyay has written to the ministry about the importance of the two officials and that they should be given extension up to October 31.

On November 28, 2011, Upadhyay had asked the NHAI to initiate the process for the replacements of Sharma and Palekar. Union minister for road transport and highways CP Joshi has also given his approval for this.

In NHAI, engineers come on deputation for three years. But many violate the deputation law by prolonging their stay. There for many officials in NHAI who have been here on deputation for more than five years. Sharma and Palekar have been on deputation for eight years, which is a violation of NHAI rules. The officers were also given promotions. Insiders say this is neither good for the NHAI nor for the ministry and the NHAI should work on a mechanism to create options for those officers who are about to be repatriated.