To establish the ‘NHAI Centre for Economics of Transportation, Mobility and Logistics’ at NCAER, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER). This is India’s first permanent and independent research center dedicated to the economics of transport, mobility, and logistics.
The MoU was signed at the NHAI headquarters in the presence of the NHAI Chairman, the Director General of NCAER, and senior officials from both NHAI and NCAER.
This center will serve as a dedicated platform for applied economic research on transport, mobility, and logistics. It will generate actionable insights to support long-term planning, investment, and policy-making in the road sector. It will conduct policy-oriented studies in areas such as highway economics, freight logistics, multimodal integration, the economic impact of highway projects, tolling policy, asset monetization, road safety, technology adoption, and operations and maintenance.
An advisory committee comprising renowned economists, transport experts, policymakers, and academics will guide this center. It will also include the NHAI Member (Finance) and the Director General of NCAER. A steering committee constituted by the NHAI will determine research priorities, review findings, and ensure that the work aligns with policy and operational requirements. The NHAI will also assist in the establishment and functioning of the center for the next ten years. (PIB)


