NHAI Strengthens Professional Management of InvIT-led Highway Operations
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has initiated a significant step to institutionalize professional and technology-driven Operations and Maintenance (O&M) of national highway assets through its Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT), the National Highways Infra Trust (NHIT). Registered with SEBI in October 2020, NHIT currently manages national highway assets spanning a combined length of 2,653 km across India.
In the first phase of this initiative, NHIT has engaged General Management Consultants (GMCs) to manage O&M for 908 km of national highway assets. The primary objective is to enhance asset performance, improve operational efficiency, and adopt global best practices in managing operational highway infrastructure. NHIT is supported by National Highways InvIT Project Managers Private Limited (NHIPMPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of NHAI that functions as the Project Manager responsible for ensuring efficient O&M either directly or through consultants while maintaining robust reporting, disclosure, and certification in accordance with SEBI InvIT Regulations.
The GMCs will assist NHIPMPL in delivering end-to-end professional asset management solutions, including systematic inspections of highway assets through daily, weekly, and monthly assessments using both visual inspections and modern equipment-based evaluation techniques. Based on these assessments, the consultants will identify maintenance requirements, safety interventions, defect rectification works, capacity augmentation measures, and other improvement initiatives for road user comfort.
Additionally, the GMCs will manage procurement of specialized contractors and agencies, supervise execution of works, certify completed works, recommend measures for improving toll plaza operations and traffic management, and ensure timely reporting and compliance with SEBI's regulatory framework governing Infrastructure Investment Trusts. This initiative is expected to create a dedicated ecosystem of professional O&M consultants with specialized expertise in highway asset management while generating new avenues for business, innovation, and employment in the infrastructure sector.
The strengthened governance standards, enhanced operational efficiencies, and greater compliance with SEBI's regulatory requirements are anticipated to reinforce investor confidence and facilitate increased investments from domestic and global investors in India's national highway assets. NHAI also plans to develop a robust ecosystem of specialized Operations and Maintenance contractors to further strengthen asset management capabilities across the national highway network.