Govt finalises list of highway projects to be leased out for funding new road development
New Delhi, May 28
The National Highways Authority of India has finalised a tentative list of National Highway stretches to be monetised during FY 2026-27 under the Toll-Operate-Transfer and Infrastructure Investment Trust models as part of the Centre's asset monetisation strategy.
According to the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, the move is aimed at "unlocking value from operational National Highway assets" and mobilising capital for future infrastructure development and highway expansion projects.
The identified highway assets comprise 17 projects with a combined length of 1,692.5 km spread across nine states -- Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra.
NHAI said these highway stretches represent "economic and logistics corridors with established traffic potential and robust connectivity significance".
The authority clarified that the tentative list does not include assets proposed to be monetised through the Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT) during FY 2026-27.
According to the ministry, the monetisation exercise is part of the Government of India's broader strategy to "leverage operational National Highway assets to mobilise capital for further infrastructure development, promote private sector participation and accelerate the expansion as well as modernisation of the National Highway network."
NHAI said the initiative would also enable "investors/bidders to plan their investments in an efficient manner."
The monetisation process will be carried out through the TOT and InvIT frameworks, which the authority described as "successful models for attracting long-term institutional investment" into highway infrastructure development.
The authority further stated that the initiative reinforces its commitment towards "developing a modern, resilient, and sustainable National Highway network to support economic growth, enhance logistics efficiency, and provide seamless connectivity across the country."
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good move but I'm worried about toll rates. Once private players take over, they'll keep hiking tolls every year citing inflation. We already pay through our noses on some NHAI stretches. Hope the government puts strict caps on toll increases. Also, will these 17 projects include some of our badly maintained state highways?
Ek baat toh clear hai, infrastructure development ke liye paisa chahiye aur yeh monetisation strategy sahi hai. But I hope NHAI doesn't sell off all the good stretches and leave us with only the loss-making ones. InvIT model se long-term investors aayenge toh road quality bhi improve hogi. Thoda aur transparency chahiye is process mein.
As someone who frequently travels on NH-44 and NH-48, I can tell you these "economic corridors" badly need maintenance. Potholes and uneven surfaces are common even on so-called operational stretches. If TOT means better upkeep, I'm all for it. But what about the common man? Toll rates should be reasonable, not commercial. 😤
Private sector participation is key to accelerating road infrastructure. NHAI's asset monetisation program is smart because it frees up capital for new projects while transferring operational risk to better-equipped private entities. The 1,692.5 km figure is significant. But I hope the bidding process is transparent and not just awarded to a few big players like L&T or IRB. Healthy competition will ensure better value for taxpayers.
This is classic infrastructure development financing, just like how Western countries do
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