NHAI identifies 1,692 km of national highways across 9 states for monetisation in FY27
New Delhi, May 28
In order to unlock value from operational National Highway assets, NHAI on Thursday announced that it has finalised a tentative list of National Highway stretches proposed for monetisation under the Toll-Operate-Transfer and Infrastructure Investment Trust modes during the Financial Year 2026-27.
However, the list does not include the assets proposed to be monetised through Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT) for FY 2026-27, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said.
The initiative is part of the Government's asset monetisation strategy focused on leveraging 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.
This would enable investors/bidders to plan their investments in an efficient manner, the ministry stated.
"This would enable investors/bidders to plan their investments in an efficient manner," the ministry mentioned.
The identified national highways assets with a total combined length of 1692.5 km comprise of stretches across nine states including Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra.
These Highway assets collectively represent economic and logistics corridors with established traffic potential and robust connectivity significance.
The list of 17 projects has been hosted on NHAI website, as per the ministry.
The monetisation exercise will be undertaken through transparent and structured mechanisms under the TOT and InvIT frameworks.
Both the frameworks have emerged as successful models for attracting long-term institutional investment into further expanding the National Highway infrastructure by adopting innovative financing mechanisms for sustainable infrastructure development while ensuring efficient asset management and operational excellence.
The initiative also reinforces NHAI's 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.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally some action on infrastructure funding! The InvIT model is actually working well - my father invested in some highway InvITs and gets decent returns. But transparency in asset valuation is crucial. Hope the bidding process is fair and not just benefiting big corporates.
As someone who travels on NH-48 regularly, I can see how this monetisation leads to better maintenance. But the government should ensure that the private operators don't ignore upkeep once they take over. Remember what happened with some toll roads in the past? 😤
Good to see Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in the list! These states need better highways for economic growth. But why only 9 states? What about the Northeast? And why no mention of safety features like crash barriers and proper lighting on these monetised stretches?
This is exactly what India needs - innovative financing for infrastructure. Having worked in infrastructure finance in the UK, I can say that TOT and InvIT models are globally proven. But India must ensure strong regulatory oversight to protect investor interests and road users alike.
My only concern is that toll charges keep increasing every year. In Tamil Nadu, some highways have toll plazas every 50 km! Hope NHAI ensures reasonable toll rates for the common man while still being attractive for investors. Balance is key! 🙏
R < We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.