NEW DELHI: The prime minister’s office (PMO) has asked the road transport and highways ministry to respond to suggestions whether the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) can be transformed into an asset management company and stop constructing roads.
In a letter addressed to the highways ministry, the principal secretary to PM, Nripendra Mishra has attached a list of suggestions the PMO has received regarding the road sector and has asked the ministry to examine which ones were feasible and could be adopted.
The compilation of suggestions bats for aggressive monetisation of NHAI assets (roads) by auctioning all completed projects under toll operate and transfer (TOT) mode. Under this mode, the private toll operators will take over completed roads for 10 to 20 years and will give upfront revenue to NHAI. They will be allowed to collect toll for the agreed period and will also maintain the stretch.
The suggestions said that NHAI is “log-jammed” with unplanned and excessive expansion of NHs and has been paying high compensation for land acquisition.
