NHAI targets ₹1 lakh-cr fund in next five years

Union minister Nitin Gadkari informed that NHAI is planning to generate ₹1 lakh crore through monetization of national highways in the next five years and exhorted industry players to come forward to reap rich dividends by investing in it. The move will spur growth and the funds could be roped in creating sound infrastructure. He said that asset monetization offers a good business opportunity for industry players in existing infrastructure and will help the government in unlocking the value of investment made in creating infrastructure. NHAI has been authorized to monetize public-funded national highway projects, which are operational and are collecting toll for at least one year after the commercial operation, through the TOT model on a case-to-case basis. He also termed the launch of the national asset monetization pipeline as a path-breaking initiative that will catalyze long-term investment in infrastructure. Besides, the government is also in the process of setting up a new development finance institution DFI. The institution is being set up on a capital base of ₹20,000 crore and will have a lending target of ₹5 lakh crore in three years.