NHAI and NCAER Establish Transportation Economics Research Center
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) to establish India's first permanent and independent research center dedicated to the economics of transportation, mobility and logistics. The MoU was signed on June 23, 2026, at NHAI headquarters in the presence of NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav, NCAER Director General, and senior officials from both organizations.
Research Focus and Objectives
The NHAI Centre for Economics of Transportation, Mobility and Logistics will serve as a dedicated platform for applied economic research with a focus on generating actionable insights to support long-term planning, investment and policy formulation in the road and transport sector. The center will undertake policy-relevant research across multiple thematic areas including National Highway economics, freight logistics, modal integration, regional economic impacts of National Highway investments, toll policy, asset monetization, road safety interventions, and technology adoption in National Highway operations and maintenance.
Governance and Funding Structure
NHAI has provided a founding contribution for the center's establishment, with NCAER committed to mobilizing additional contributions from other allied institutions and partners. The center will be supported by NHAI for a period of ten years. Governance will be managed through an Advisory Committee comprising leading economists, transportation specialists, public policy experts, and eminent academicians, along with NHAI's Member (Finance) and the Director General of NCAER. Additionally, a Steering Committee constituted by NHAI will oversee research priorities, review outputs, and facilitate alignment with the Authority's policy and operational requirements.
Knowledge Dissemination and Capacity Building
Beyond research activities, the center will function as a knowledge hub for the transportation sector by disseminating findings through policy briefs, working papers, flagship reports, stakeholder consultations, workshops, and academic engagements. The institution will also play an important role in developing future talent and institutional capacity in transportation economics, contributing to evidence-based decision-making and enhanced policy effectiveness in developing India's National Highway network.