NHAI, NCAER partner to launch transport economics research centre

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) to establish the NHAI Centre for Economics of Transportation, Mobility and Logistics at NCAER. The centre will be India's first permanent and independent research institution dedicated to the economics of transportation, mobility and logistics.

The initiative aims to strengthen evidence-based policymaking and promote high-quality research in the road transportation sector. The centre is being established with a founding contribution from NHAI, while NCAER will mobilise contributions from other allied institutions and partners.

The MoU was signed at NHAI headquarters in the presence of senior officials from NHAI and NCAER, including NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav and NCAER Director General. According to NHAI, the initiative reflects its commitment to integrating research, data analytics and evidence-based decision-making into the development and management of the country's expanding National Highway network.

Speaking on the occasion, Yadav said NHAI has been at the forefront of improving national connectivity and logistics efficiency. He said the partnership with NCAER would provide a dedicated platform for research and policy analysis to support planning, investment and asset management decisions in the transportation sector.

The centre will undertake applied economic research on transportation, mobility and logistics, focusing on generating insights to support long-term planning, investment and policy formulation in the road and transport sector. Research areas will include National Highway economics, freight logistics, modal integration, regional economic impacts of highway investments, toll policy, asset monetisation, road safety interventions, technology adoption, and highway operations and maintenance.

The research findings will support the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, NHAI and other government agencies in designing policies and programmes aimed at improving efficiency, sustainability and user experience across the transportation ecosystem.

Apart from research, the centre will function as a knowledge hub for the transportation sector. It will disseminate its findings through policy briefs, working papers, flagship reports, stakeholder consultations, workshops and academic engagements. The centre will also contribute to talent development and institutional capacity building in transportation economics.

An Advisory Committee comprising economists, transportation specialists, public policy experts, academicians, NHAI's Member (Finance) and the Director General of NCAER will guide the centre. A Steering Committee constituted by NHAI will oversee research priorities, review outputs and ensure alignment with the authority's policy and operational requirements.

NHAI will support the establishment and operation of the centre for a period of ten years. The authority said the institution will help strengthen understanding of the economic aspects of transportation infrastructure, mobility systems and logistics networks, supporting informed decision-making and the development of a modern National Highway network.