The central government is planning a major highway monetisation programme to raise nearly ₹35,000 crore by using existing road assets to fund future infrastructure projects. Reports said 28 national highway stretches, covering more than 1,800 km, have been identified for the plan in FY27.
The idea is not to sell highways permanently. Instead, completed road projects will be handed over to private companies for operation and maintenance for a fixed period. In return, the government will receive an upfront payment, which can then be invested in building new roads and infrastructure.
Officials believe the approach will help generate funds without putting additional pressure on government finances. Rather than depending entirely on fresh borrowing, the government plans to make better use of existing assets that are already operational.
Reports suggest Haryana has the highest number of highway projects on the proposed list, followed by Uttar Pradesh. The initiative is also expected to attract interest from private investors and infrastructure funds looking for long-term opportunities.
The government has increasingly used models such as Toll-Operate-Transfer (ToT) and infrastructure investment trusts in recent years to raise funds from completed projects. These methods have been used to recycle capital and support further expansion in the infrastructure sector.
