NHAI constructs 5,313 km of National Highways in FY26, exceeds target by 15 pc
New Delhi, April 1
The National Highways Authority of India constructed 5,313 km of National Highways during the financial year 2025-26, which is about 15 per cent higher than the target of 4,640 km for the year, the government said on Wednesday.
Working relentlessly towards the development of national highway infrastructure in the country, the capital expenditure by the NHAI in FY26 for the development of NH infrastructure was at Rs 2,44,362 crore.
"The capital expenditure for the financial year is about 2.5 per cent higher than the Government Budgetary Support of Rs 2,38,384 crore for the year. The differential amount of Rs 5,978 crore has been met through NHAI's own resources," the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said.
Meanwhile, the NHAI has realised Rs 28,307 crore through a combination of Public InvIT, Private InvIT, and Toll-Operate-Transfer (TOT) model, including TOT Bundles 17 and 18 for FY 2025-26.
With bids received for TOT Bundle-19, which are under technical evaluation, the NHAI is well poised to achieve the government's budgeted target of Rs 30,000 crore for the current fiscal. The NHAI has successfully monetised over 310 km of National Highways under InvIT Round-5 as part of its Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) programme.
The InvIT-5 has been awarded to NHIT Western Projects Private Ltd for a concession fee of Rs 6,366.98 crore for a period of 20 years.
The acquisition of these assets was financed through a combination of equity and debt. The public issue was oversubscribed nearly 14 times, reflecting strong investor confidence in India's infrastructure sector, the government's asset monetisation programme, and the long-term growth prospects of national highway assets.
The NHAI said it is committed to building world-class national highway infrastructure across the country that will contribute not only to the growth of the road sector but will also play a critical role in nation-building and contribute towards advancing the growth of the Indian economy.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great to see the progress, but I hope the quality matches the quantity. We've all seen new highways develop potholes within a year. Focus on durability and proper maintenance is equally important.
The monetisation figures are impressive! Rs 28,307 crore from InvIT and TOT shows smart financial management. This reinvestment cycle can fund even more projects. Strong investor confidence is a good sign for the sector.
While the numbers look good on paper, I wish there was more focus on last-mile connectivity in rural areas. National highways are great, but the state roads leading to them are often in terrible condition. Development should be holistic.
As someone who travels frequently between Mumbai and Pune for work, the improvement in the expressway and surrounding NHs has been noticeable. Travel time has reduced significantly. This infrastructure push is tangible and welcome.
Building over 5,300 km in a year is commendable. However, the environmental cost and displacement of people due to these projects often goes under-reported. Hope there is proper rehabilitation and care for the ecology as well.
This is a step in the right direction for a Viksit Bharat! Better
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