NHAI To Set Up India’s First Transport And Logistics Research Hub

29 Jun 2026 CW Team

The initiative aims to strengthen evidence-based policymaking and to promote research in the road transport sector by focusing on applied economic analysis. It is intended to support long-term planning, investment decisions and policy formulation for national highway infrastructure and freight movement. NHAI has indicated institutional backing for a period of 10 years to ensure continuity of work.

Research at the centre will cover national highway economics, freight logistics and modal integration, along with studies of regional economic impacts, toll policy and asset monetisation. Road safety interventions and technology adoption in operations and maintenance will also be examined to inform practical measures. The centre will therefore address both operational and strategic aspects of the transport system.

Outputs are expected to assist the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), NHAI and other government agencies in designing policies and programmes to improve efficiency, sustainability and user experience in the transport sector. The centre will serve as a knowledge hub by sharing findings through policy briefs, working papers, reports, consultations, workshops and academic engagements. It will also support capacity building in transportation economics for public and private sector stakeholders.

An advisory committee of economists, transportation experts, public policy specialists and academicians will guide the research programme while a steering committee set up by NHAI will oversee priorities and outputs. NHAI chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav said the partnership with NCAER will create a dedicated platform for high-quality research and policy analysis to strengthen planning, investment and asset management decisions in the transportation sector.

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National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will establish the country's first permanent and independent research centre for the economics of transportation, mobility and logistics at the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) in Delhi. The centre is being set up with a contribution from NHAI while NCAER will mobilise support from allied institutions and partners. The memorandum of understanding signed between the two bodies formalises the partnership and its objectives. The initiative aims to strengthen evidence-based policymaking and to promote research in the road transport sector by focusing on applied economic analysis. It is intended to support long-term planning, investment decisions and policy formulation for national highway infrastructure and freight movement. NHAI has indicated institutional backing for a period of 10 years to ensure continuity of work. Research at the centre will cover national highway economics, freight logistics and modal integration, along with studies of regional economic impacts, toll policy and asset monetisation. Road safety interventions and technology adoption in operations and maintenance will also be examined to inform practical measures. The centre will therefore address both operational and strategic aspects of the transport system. Outputs are expected to assist the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), NHAI and other government agencies in designing policies and programmes to improve efficiency, sustainability and user experience in the transport sector. The centre will serve as a knowledge hub by sharing findings through policy briefs, working papers, reports, consultations, workshops and academic engagements. It will also support capacity building in transportation economics for public and private sector stakeholders. An advisory committee of economists, transportation experts, public policy specialists and academicians will guide the research programme while a steering committee set up by NHAI will oversee priorities and outputs. NHAI chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav said the partnership with NCAER will create a dedicated platform for high-quality research and policy analysis to strengthen planning, investment and asset management decisions in the transportation sector.

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