NHAI, SBI in talks to monetise highways

Last week, road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said he was in talks with a “big bank” to monetise around 50 projects of NHAI to raise Rs 50,000 crore.

New Delhi: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is in talks with State Bank of IndiaNSE 0.38 % to monetise road projects with high traffic density as it explores different modes to meet its Rs 75,000-crore funding requirement for the current fiscal. “The idea is, instead of monetising assets to private players, we get the money directly from banks,” a government official told ET.

NHAI, SBI in talks to monetise highways

NHAI, SBI in talks to monetise highways

It is like toll securitisation, the official said.

“The only difference is in TOT (toll-operate-transfer) — we are giving it to funds with maintenance and toll collection obligation. SBI, being a bank, will be giving loan to NHAI, which will be paid back through a special purpose vehicle (SPV), or through specific project requirements,” the official said.

Last week, road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said he was in talks with a “big bank” to monetise around 50 projects of NHAI to raise Rs 50,000 crore. He, however, did not reveal the details.

Similar to the TOT mode of asset monetisation, NHAI will monetise its projects to banks in exchange of a lump sum amount while keeping the tolling and maintenance rights with itself, officials said.

 

Source: http://bit.ly/2Y6DTiu

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