Government To Monetise 25 More National Highway Stretches Totalling 1,640 Km, Aims To Raise $3 Billion

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is planning to monetise 25 more stretches of National Highways in the country after collecting $1.6 billion from monetisation of nine highway projects, Times Now has reported.

According to the report, the monetisation of these stretches under the toll-operate-transfer (TOT) model is likely to fetch the government around $3 billion.

"Detailed project reports (DPRs) are being formulated for about 25 more highway projects. These will be auctioned in three tranches," an NHAI official told PTI.

The highway stretches totalling about 1,640 km will be bid out beginning next month, an official said. While stretches totalling about 1,000 km will be bid out in the second and third tranches in May, the remaining stretches totalling 640 km will come up for bidding in the fourth tranche likely in June or July, he added.

These stretches lie in nine states - Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. The highway stretches in Odisha and West Bengal will be put for auction in the second tranche, followed by stretches in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Telangana in the third phase. Projects in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand will be out in the last phase.

According to reports, 75 operational national highway projects completed under public funding have been preliminarily identified for potential monetisation under the TOT model. The revenue generated from monetisation could be used for future development, operation and maintenance of highways in the country.