Delhi, June 23: In a significant step towards strengthening evidence-based policymaking and fostering high-quality research in the road transportation sector, 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, India’s first permanent and independent research centre dedicated to the economics of transportation, mobility and logistics.
The centre is founded with a founding contribution from NHAI, with NCAER committed mobilizing contributions from other allied institutions and partners.
The MoU was signed at NHAI HQ in presence of Chairman NHAI, DG NCAER and senior officials from NHAI and NCAER. The first of its kind initiative reflects NHAI's commitment to integrating research, data analytics and evidence-based decision-making into the development and management of country’s rapidly expanding National Highway infrastructure.
Speaking on the occasion, NHAI Chairman Sh. Santosh Kumar Yadav said that "NHAI has been at the forefront of enhancing national connectivity and logistics efficiency. This partnership with NCAER will create a dedicated platform for high-quality research and policy analysis, helping strengthen planning, investment and asset management decisions in the transportation sector."
The Centre will serve as a dedicated platform for undertaking applied economic research on transportation, mobility and logistics, with a focus on generating actionable insights to support long-term planning, investment and policy formulation in the road and transport sector. It will undertake policy-relevant research across a wide range of thematic areas, including National Highway economics, freight logistics, modal integration, regional economic impacts of National Highway investments, toll policy, asset monetization, road safety interventions, technology adoption in National Highway operations and maintenance. The research outputs will assist the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, NHAI and other government agencies in designing policies and programs that will enhance efficiency, sustainability and user experience across the transportation ecosystem.
Beyond research, the Centre will serve as a knowledge hub for the transportation sector by disseminating findings through policy briefs, working papers, flagship reports, stakeholder consultations, workshops and academic engagements. It will also play an important role in developing future talent and institutional capacity in transportation economics.
The Centre will be anchored by an Advisory Committee comprising leading economists, transportation specialists, public policy experts and eminent academicians, along with NHAI's Member (Finance) and the Director General, NCAER. In addition, a Steering Committee constituted by NHAI will oversee research priorities, review outputs and facilitate alignment with the Authority's policy and operational requirements. NHAI will support the establishment and operation of the institution for a period of ten years.
By fostering deeper understanding of the economic dimensions of transportation infrastructure, mobility systems and logistics networks, the unique institution will support more informed decision-making, enhance policy effectiveness and contribute to the development of a robust, modern and world class National Highway network.
