The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said its public Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) has won a Rs 95 billion (bn) bid to acquire five national highway assets. The transaction was announced in a press release by the authority and marks a significant step in the monetisation of road infrastructure. The bid was part of efforts to monetise completed projects and broaden the funding base for new works.

The InvIT will take ownership of five assets that will be managed within its portfolio, enhancing scale and operational diversity. The acquisition is expected to provide steady toll revenue streams and long term cash flows for the trust and its investors. Details on individual projects and their locations were not disclosed in the announcement.

The move aligns with broader government efforts to recycle capital and accelerate infrastructure development through asset monetisation. The sale of operating highway assets to an InvIT structure is intended to unlock value and draw institutional capital seeking stable yields. Such transactions typically require regulatory clearances and stakeholder approvals before completion.

The NHAI has used Infrastructure Investment Trusts previously to transfer completed projects and to reduce public sector debt burdens while sustaining investment in new highways. This disposal is likely to support further bidding rounds and encourage private investment into ancillary services and maintenance. The transaction may also set benchmarks for pricing of similar future deals.

Regulatory approvals and formal transfer procedures are expected before financial closing, and the authority indicated that further disclosures will follow as the process advances. Observers will monitor the impact on toll operations, investor appetite and the pace of infrastructure funding. The NHAI release did not specify the timeline for completion.