The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced the formation of an asset monetisation cell. This initiative aims to drive future monetisation strategies and oversee the monetisation of completed and operational highway assets. The primary goal is to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of asset monetisation plans.
Leadership and Structure
The asset monetisation cell will be led by the NHAI member (finance). The team will consist of both contractual and regular employees with expertise in finance, technical fields, techno-finance, commercial areas, and transport economics. According to a circular issued on Monday, members of this cell will be appointed for an initial period of two years, with the possibility of an extension for up to two additional years, though the total term will not exceed five years.
Responsibilities of the Asset Monetisation Cell
The cell will play a crucial role in advising NHAI on overall planning and methodologies for asset monetisation. Its responsibilities include conducting market analysis and feasibility studies to identify potential assets. The focus will be on projects with established toll collection records and strong revenue-generation potential.
In addition, the cell will handle the formation of a public infrastructure investment trust and develop strategy documents for NHAI’s monetisation efforts. It will also engage with various stakeholders, including investors, government bodies, and financial institutions, to facilitate the monetisation process.
Investment Opportunities and Financial Targets
To aid investors in planning their investments and accelerate the monetisation process, NHAI has identified and published an indicative list of 33 assets slated for monetisation during the 2024-25 fiscal year. These assets are projected to generate more than Rs 50,000 crore in the current fiscal year.
Previous Monetisation Achievements
In the fiscal year 2023-24, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways successfully monetised assets worth Rs 40,314 crore, out of the total Rs 97,000 crore monetisation receipts recorded in the previous financial year.
