The government Thursday decided to revamp the country's highway authority to make it a more professional body, governed by independent directors and financial analysts.

The decision was taken at the second infrastructure committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here.

The committee decided the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) needed to function more like a professional body and not like another government office, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia told reporters after the meeting.

The committee told the road and surface transport ministry to go ahead with 30 projects with private sector participation on a build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis.

The ministry was asked to present the projects for cabinet clearance and give contracts by July.

The other important decision taken at the meeting was on the need to evolve a model concession agreement for all privately funded road projects.