(1) With effect from such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint in this behalf, there shall be constituted for the purposes of this Act an Authority to be called the National Highways Authority of India.

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(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power, subject to the provisions of this Act, to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and to contract and shall by the said name sue and be sued.

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¹ [(3) The Authority shall consist of--

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(a) a Chairman;

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(b) not more than six full-time members; and

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(c) not more than six part-time members,

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to be appointed by the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette:

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Provided that the Central Government shall, while appointing the part-time members, ensure that at least two of them are non-Government professionals having knowledge or experience in financial management, transportation planning or any other relevant discipline.]

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(1) For the purpose of discharging its functions, the Authority shall appoint such number of officers and other employees as it may consider necessary on such terms and conditions as may be laid down by the regulations.

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(2) The Authority may appoint, from time to time, any person as adviser or consultant as it may consider necessary, on such terms and conditions as may be laid down by the regulations.

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(1) The Authority may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make regulations not inconsistent with this Act and the rules made thereunder to carry out the provisions of this Act.

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(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such regulations may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:--

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(a) the times and places of the meetings of the Authority and the procedure to be followed for the transaction of business at such meetings;

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(b) the terms and conditions of service, method of recruitment and the remuneration of officers and other employees appointed by the Authority;

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(c) the form and manner in which a contract or class of contracts may be made by the Authority and the contracts or classes of contracts which are to be sealed with the common seal of the Authority;

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(d) the manner of preventing obstructions on the national highways for their normal functioning;

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(e) the manner of prohibiting the parking or waiting of any vehicle or carriage on the national highway except at places specified by the Authority;

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(f) the manner of prohibiting or restricting access to any part of the national highway;

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(g) the manner of regulating or restricting advertisements on and around national highways; and

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(h) generally for the efficient and proper maintenance and management of the national highways.

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