NHAI may raise up to Rs 100 bn from public via InvITs

21 Sep 2022 CW Team

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans to raise close to Rs 100 billion from the capital market through infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs), according to a report citing unnamed officials.

The first of the InvITs may open around Diwali to raise Rs 30-40 billion for the operation and maintenance of completed roads and highways. An additional Rs 50-60 billion worth of highways are expected to be moved to InvITs by December, paving the way for subsequent market offers to give retail investors a chance to invest in the highway development programme. A part of the fundraising may spill over to the next year.

InvITs raise money from the public to invest in infrastructure projects such as roads and ports and, in return offer dividends to unitholders. The new initiative is expected to deepen the asset monetisation market in the roads sector. So far, all road sector InvITs are private trusts.

Only institutional investors such as insurance companies and pension funds had participated in the first InvIT round of NHAI in October last year.

The officials said NHAI had already sought approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to launch the InvIT. A senior official in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), which controls NHAI, said the plan for a market offer by National Highways Infra Trust, the first InvIT sponsored by NHAI, is at an advanced stage.

The officials said funds could also be raised by selling bonds. Another option is that highway assets worth Rs 50-60 billion will be offered by NHAI to a new InvIT, which can be a special purpose vehicle (SPV) of the existing trust.

Infrastructure Transport

17 Oct 2025

Sonowal Unveils Eight Projects at NMPA’s Golden Jubilee

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, inaugurated the Curtain Raiser Ceremony of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) at Bharat Mandapam. To commemorate the milestone, he unveiled eight major maritime infrastructure projects designed to strengthen India’s port network, enhance logistics performance, and promote sustainability. These include a modern cruise terminal, new covered storage facilities, a 150-bed multi-speciality hospital, expanded truck terminals, and improved port access infrastructure aimed at enhancing..

India To Boost US LPG Imports, Cut Middle East Reliance

India is planning to reduce imports of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from the Middle East as state-owned refiners prepare to ramp up purchases from the United States, according to sources familiar with the matter. The move aligns with New Delhi’s efforts to expand energy cooperation and secure a broader trade deal with Washington. State refiners have already notified their traditional LPG suppliers in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar of the potential reduction in imports. Although the exact size of the supply cut was not disclosed, earlier reports suggested that Indi..

UK Sanctions Nayara Energy in Crackdown on Russian Oil

The United Kingdom has announced fresh sanctions on 90 entities, including Indian refiner Nayara Energy Limited, in its latest bid to curb Russian oil revenues and weaken President Vladimir Putin’s war funding. The sanctions, unveiled jointly by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the UK Treasury, aim to disrupt networks supporting Moscow’s crude exports amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. According to the FCDO, the new restrictions are intended to “strike at the heart of Putin’s war funding” by targeting firms and assets that enable Russia’s energy trade. “..