Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari launched the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) sponsored Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT), which listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). The maiden public issue of the RIIT received a strong response from investors and the listing was described by officials as an important step in attracting investment into India’s highway infrastructure sector. The public offer was oversubscribed nearly 14 times and officials regarded the outcome as a significant milestone in infrastructure financing. Gadkari said that the next target was to monetise 1,500 kilometres of highways over the next three years through the RIIT and that the initiative enabled direct public participation in infrastructure growth. He framed the listing as contributing to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to create an Aatmanirbhar Bharat and as a mechanism to turn national highway users into stakeholders in project assets. Officials emphasised the potential for institutional and retail investors to access cash flows from toll and road assets through the InvIT structure. Market commentary at the listing referenced early positive movement in domestic share markets as investors took a breather from recent selling pressure, although volatility remained amid uncertainty linked to developments in the Strait of Hormuz. The Nifty 50 opened at 22,878.45, gaining 365.80 points or 1.62 per cent, while the BSE Sensex opened at 74,212.47, up 1,516.08 points or 2.09 per cent. Sectoral indices showed broad based buying with autos, public sector banks and information technology among those recording gains. Regional markets in Asia were reported to be firm, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 rising by 0.75 per cent and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng increasing by 1.75 per cent, while United States indices closed higher on Monday with the Dow Jones and the S&P 500 among those rising. Observers noted that the strong subscription to the RIIT issue reflected investor appetite for infrastructure related cash flows despite an uncertain macro environment. The listing on the BSE was presented as an opening for increased monetisation of national highways through structured investment vehicles.