Mumbai: The planning commission has suggested the setting up of a common regulator for transport and energy sectors and has cautioned the government against sector-specific regulators which could become "clash points" between the concerned ministries.

Setting out its views in the integrated energy policy, the planning commission has suggested a single regulator for oil, gas and coal to ensure a defined pricing mechanism for sensitive fuel items.

"We at the planning commission are thinking on having a common but independent regulator for energy and transport sectors," its deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said at a function in New Delhi.

He said the commission is yet to finalise its suggestions in this connection, but consultation with industry bodies were on.

"We haven't formulated our views, but have consulted the industries in the matter," Ahluwalia said.

He said there is a broad consensus even at the government level that having regulatory bodies for each sector would be unviable as they would create more problems than solve them.

"The government is seriously concerned that proliferation of regulatory bodies could fuel confusion in various quarters," sources said.

In fact, sources said, the plan panel has been toying with the idea of having a 'super regulator' for the energy and transport sectors with all encompassing powers.