Recent policy recalibrations are reshaping the hybrid annuity model, a distinctly Indian innovation in public-private partnership for road infrastructure. These changes aim to ensure that financially sound and technically qualified developers take the lead, setting the stage for higher construction standards and a more balanced distribution of national highway projects, says Anand Kulkarni. National highways...
Category: Roads & Highways
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From Muddy Tracks to Expressways: Bihar’s Quiet Road Revolution
Bihar’s successful execution of road development proves that with commitment and integrity, even decades of backwardness can be returned to the highway of progress, writes Nitin Nabin, Minister for Road Construction, Government of Bihar. Through the 1990s and early 2000s, Bihar was synonymous with broken, pothole-ridden roads. Locals often quipped: “In Bihar, you find the...
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Road Construction May Hit Five-Year Low in FY2026, Cautions ICRA
The revised estimate of 9,000-9,500 km, down from an earlier forecast of 9,500-10,000 km, reflects the impact of an extended monsoon and slower project awarding across FY2024 and FY2025. India’s road construction activity is projected to slow sharply in FY2026, with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) expected to execute just 9,000-9,500 km,...
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NHAI May Raise Up to ₹400 Billion in FY2026 via TOT and InvIT Monetisation, Surpassing Budget Target: ICRA
If realised, the estimated ₹350-400 billion would not only eclipse the ₹243.99 billion raised in FY2025, but also outpace the ₹300 billion monetisation target set for FY2026. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) could potentially raise between ₹350 billion and ₹400 billion in FY2026 through timely monetisation of identified road assets, according to ratings...
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NHAI Cracks Down on Dubious Contractors with Stricter RFP Norms for Highway Projects
Revised RFP provisions issued by NHAI are expected to raise execution standards, minimise delays, and reduce lifecycle costs across India’s national highway network. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued a detailed clarification on key provisions of its Request for Proposal (RFP) framework, aimed at tightening contractor qualification norms, curbing unauthorised subcontracting, and...
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NHAI Subsidiary to Roll Out India’s First Multi-Lane Free Flow Tolling System in Gujarat
NHAI plans to introduce MLFF-based tolling at around 25 national highway fee plazas this financial year, with site identification currently underway. In a major step towards modernising India’s highway infrastructure, the Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL)—a subsidiary of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)—has signed an agreement with ICICI Bank to implement the...
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Modi Inaugurates ₹18.7 Billion Aunta-Simaria Ganga Bridge to Link North and South Bihar
The new bridge will eliminate the need for heavy vehicles to take detours of over 100 kms between North Bihar districts, easing regional traffic congestion, particularly in areas previously strained by diverted freight movement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ₹18.7 billion Aunta-Simaria Ganga Bridge Project on Friday, part of a broader ₹120 billion infrastructure...
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New HAM Bidding Norms May Sideline 25% of Road Developers, Says Crisil Ratings
India’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) introduced the changes on July 10 to curb aggressive bidding and improve construction quality. Revised bidding criteria for hybrid annuity model (HAM) road projects could temporarily disqualify one in four existing developers, according to a new analysis by Crisil Ratings. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways...
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IRB Infra and InvIT Projects Post 10% Growth in July 2025 Toll Collections
The company expects a further upside in traffic volumes and toll revenues with the onset of the festive season in India. After registering a strong year-on-year toll revenue growth of around 8 per cent in the first quarter of FY2026, IRB Infrastructure Developers Ltd and IRB Infrastructure Trust have collectively reported a 10 per cent...
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AM/NS India Leads Nation in Securing CSIR-CRRI License for Steel Slag Roads
Under the agreement, AM/NS India’s Hazira plant has been cleared to process around 1.7 million tonnes of steel slag annually for application in road building. ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India), the country’s largest privately owned steelmaker, has become the Indian company to receive a license for steel slag valourisation technology from the Central Road...