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.
This will be India’s first permanent and independent research centre dedicated exclusively to the economics of transportation, mobility, and logistics.
The initiative aims to strengthen evidence-based policymaking and promote high-quality research in the road transport sector.
The MoU was signed at NHAI Headquarters, New Delhi, in the presence of NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav, the Director General of NCAER, and senior officials of both organisations. The centre will undertake applied economic research to generate actionable insights for long-term planning, investment decisions, and policy formulation in the road transport and logistics sector.
The proposed centre will work on important themes such as:
National Highway economics
Freight logistics
Modal integration
Regional economic impact of highway investments
Toll policy
Asset monetisation
Road safety interventions
Technology adoption in highway operations and maintenance
NHAI will support the establishment and operation of the centre for 10 years, while NCAER will mobilise additional support from allied institutions and partners. The research outputs will assist the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), NHAI, and other government agencies in designing policies that improve efficiency, sustainability, and user experience across the transportation ecosystem.
About the NHAI Centre for Economics of Transportation, Mobility and Logistics
The newly proposed centre will act as a knowledge hub for the transport sector. Apart from research, it will disseminate findings through:
Policy briefs
Working papers
Flagship reports
Stakeholder consultations
Workshops
Academic engagements
It will be guided by an Advisory Committee comprising economists, transport specialists, public policy experts, academicians, NHAI’s Member (Finance), and the Director General of NCAER. In addition, a Steering Committee constituted by NHAI will oversee research priorities and ensure alignment with policy and operational needs.
Additional Key Facts
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
Established: 1988
Statutory Basis: National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988
Ministry: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
Headquarters: New Delhi
Chairman: Santosh Kumar Yadav
Role: Development, maintenance, and management of National Highways in India.
Key Functions of NHAI
Development of National Highway infrastructure
Implementation of Bharatmala Pariyojana
Toll collection and tolling policy implementation
Highway asset monetisation
Road safety and maintenance management
PPP-based highway projects
National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER)
Established: 1956
Headquarters: New Delhi
President: Nandan M. Nilekani
Nature: India’s oldest and largest independent economic policy research think tank
Role: Conducts economic research, policy analysis, surveys, and impact studies across sectors such as infrastructure, labour, health, agriculture, trade, and macroeconomics.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
Responsible for:
Development and regulation of road transport
Expansion and maintenance of National Highways
Road safety policy
Vehicle regulation and transport reforms
Minister: Nitin Gadkari
Current Road Network Facts
India has the second-largest road network in the world.
National Highways account for only about 2% of the total road network, but carry around 40% of road traffic in India.
(Important fact for prelims and mains answer enrichment.)
Related Government Initiative: Bharatmala Pariyojana
Flagship highway development programme of the Government of India.
Focuses on:
Economic corridors
Border roads
Coastal roads
Port connectivity roads
Greenfield expressways
Aims to improve freight movement, logistics efficiency, and regional connectivity.
Exam Focus Points (Quick Revision Notes)
Organisation in News → NHAI
Partner Organisation → NCAER
MoU Objective → Establish Centre for Economics of Transportation, Mobility and Logistics
Location of Centre → At NCAER, New Delhi
Special Feature → India’s first permanent and independent research centre on transport economics
Ministry Associated with NHAI → Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
Support Duration by NHAI → 10 years
Key Themes of Research → Highway economics, freight logistics, toll policy, road safety, asset monetisation, modal integration
Think Tank in News → NCAER
NCAER Established → 1956
UPSC - 2027 - Prelims cum Mains - New Batch Starts on 24-06-2026 
