NHAI awards TOT bundles worth Rs 159.68 bn in FY 2023-24

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has granted toll, operate, and transfer (TOT) bundles 13 and 14, covering a total distance of 273 km, for Rs 93.84 billion. This brings the total value of TOT bundles awarded in the fiscal year 2023-24 to Rs 159.68 billion, surpassing the set monetisation target of Rs 100 billion for the current fiscal year, as announced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. TOT bundle 13, encompassing the Kota Bypass and Stay Bridge on NH-76 in Rajasthan, along with the Gwalior-Jhansi section of NH-75 in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, has been granted to IRB Infrastructure Trust for Rs 16.83 billion. In parallel, TOT bundle 14, which includes the Delhi-Meerut Expressway and the Delhi-Hapur section of NH-9 in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, as well as the Binjabahal to Teliebani section of NH-6 in Odisha, has been awarded to Cube Highways and Infrastructure for Rs 77.01 billion. According to the road ministry's statement, the concession period for TOT bundles is 20 years, during which concessionaires are obligated to maintain and operate the designated stretches. In return, concessionaires will collect and retain user fees for these segments, adhering to the prescribed fee rates under NH Fee Rules. Previously, in October 2023, NHAI had awarded TOT bundles 11 and 12, covering a combined length of 400 km, for Rs 65.84 billion. These bundles included the Allahabad Bypass on NH19 in Uttar Pradesh and the Lalitpur?Sagar?Lakhnadon section in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The TOT model, designed to encourage private involvement in the highway sector, has played a crucial role in unlocking the value of the road network, contributing to the development of a world-class national highway network in the country, as per the road ministry's statement.