The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has identified 24 road assets to be monetized in the financial year 2025-26, with the aim of generating revenue through various modes, including toll-operate-transfer (TOT), InvIT, and securitization. The total length of the road assets set for monetization is 1,472 km, with an estimated cumulative annual revenue of Rs 1,863 crore from these assets in 2023-24. The monetization of these assets is expected to play a crucial role in the development of India's infrastructure, particularly in the highways sector.

According to the NHAI, the 24 projects are located in various states, including Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, and Odisha. The target for 2025-26 is lower compared to 2024-25, when NHAI had identified 33 highway stretches to 2,741 km across the country for monetization. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has set a target of raising Rs 39,000 crore through various asset monetization methods in 2024-25, with a concession agreement for TOT Bundle-16 (251 km) amounting to Rs 6,661 crore already signed in November 2024.

The revenue generated from the monetization of these assets will be utilized for the development of new highway projects, as well as for the maintenance and upkeep of existing roads. The NHAI is utilizing three modes for monetization: toll-operate-transfer (TOT), InvIT, and securitization. Under the TOT model, the rights to collect fees for selected operational national highway projects, funded by the public, are granted to a concessionaire in exchange for an upfront lump-sum payment to NHAI. The InvIT model involves the creation of an infrastructure investment trust, which allows investors to invest in a portfolio of infrastructure assets, including highways.

The following are the key points related to the NHAI's plan to monetize 24 road assets in 2025-26: * Total length of road assets: 1,472 km * Estimated cumulative annual revenue: Rs 1,863 crore * Number of projects: 24 * Locations: Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, and Odisha * Target for 2025-26: Lower compared to 2024-25 * Modes of monetization: TOT, InvIT, and securitization * Revenue target: Rs 39,000 crore in 2024-25 * Concession agreement: TOT Bundle-16 (251 km) amounting to Rs 6,661 crore signed in November 2024

The NHAI's plan to monetize 24 road assets in 2025-26 is expected to have a positive impact on the development of India's highways sector, as well as on the overall economy. The monetization of these assets will provide a new source of revenue for the government, which can be utilized for the development of new infrastructure projects, as well as for the maintenance and upkeep of existing roads. Additionally, the InvIT model is expected to attract new investors to the highways sector, providing a boost to the economy.