Ten national highways passing through Karnataka identified for asset monetisation

BENGALURU: The Centre has identified 10 national highways passing through Karnataka for its infrastructure asset monetisation plan, which was unveiled on Monday. Overall in the south region, it has identified 28 highways.

Asset monetisation is aimed at helping the central government raise funds for new projects and improve overall infrastructure maintenance. The plan may involve models such as toll operate transfer (ToT), infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs) and hybrid annuity (HAM). Private investors will be allowed to collect tolls for a fixed period after a one-time, lump-sum payment.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has stressed that the ownership of infrastructure assets will remain with the government and that nothing is being sold off.