The proposed cell will focus on identifying and leveraging various monetisation opportunities, including toll-operate-transfer (TOT) projects, infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs), and securitisation of toll revenue. By doing so, NHAI aims to attract private investment, thereby reducing the financial burden on the government and accelerating the pace of highway development in the country.

NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav highlighted the importance of this initiative, emphasising that the asset monetisation cell will play a crucial role in optimising the authority's revenue streams. The cell will be tasked with creating a comprehensive database of all NHAI assets, evaluating their monetisation potential, and formulating strategies to enhance their value.

The establishment of the asset monetisation cell is aligned with the government?s broader agenda of monetising public infrastructure to fund new projects and improve existing ones. It is expected that the cell will help in better planning and execution of monetisation initiatives, leading to improved financial health for NHAI.

This initiative is anticipated to contribute significantly to the NHAI's revenue generation efforts, ensuring that it continues to play a pivotal role in the development and maintenance of the national highways network, which is critical for India?s economic growth and connectivity.