The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has signed an agreement with the council to establish a research centre aimed at strengthening planning, investment and asset management decisions in the transportation sector. The authority has been at the forefront of enhancing national connectivity and logistics efficiency, the chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav noted in outlining the objectives of the partnership. The platform is intended to support evidence based policymaking and long term strategic choices. The centre will function as a permanent platform for applied economic research on transportation, mobility and logistics to generate actionable insights for long term planning, financial investment and policy formulation. It will undertake studies across thematic areas including national highway economics, freight logistics, modal integration, regional economic impacts of infrastructure investments, toll policy, asset monetisation, road safety interventions and technology adoption in highway operations and maintenance. Research outputs are expected to assist the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the highway authority and other government agencies in designing programmes to improve efficiency and sustainability. The institution will act as a knowledge hub by disseminating findings through policy briefs, working papers, flagship reports, stakeholder consultations, workshops and academic engagements. It will play a role in developing future professional talent and building institutional capacity in transportation economics. These activities are intended to support more informed investment decisions and enhance user experiences across the transportation ecosystem. Governance arrangements will include an independent advisory committee of leading economists, transportation specialists, public policy experts and academicians together with the finance member of the highway authority and the director general of the council. A dedicated steering committee constituted by the highway authority will oversee research priorities, review operational outputs and ensure alignment with policy and operational requirements. NHAI will fully support the establishment and operation of the centre for a fixed period of 10 years to foster a deeper understanding of the economic dimensions of transportation infrastructure and to contribute to the development of a robust, modern and world class national highway network.