



Build-operate-transfer model returns: India to bid out half its highways, worth Rs75,000cr, next fiscal
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. The Indian government plans to bid out half of the national highway projects planned for fiscal 2027–a spending of Rs75,000 crore on 5,000 km–under a build-operate-transfer (BoT) toll model involving private road developers after a long break since 2014, said three government officials aware of the new plan.
The push, which hinges on a new, investor-friendly so-called master concession agreement or MCA, is expected to tap into private capital in highway construction. The private sector is optimistic of the BoT model given better revenue visibility thanks to factors such as high levels of use of FASTag, the toll deduction platform, and traffic predictability.
If the model finds takers to the extent targeted, it could free up government funding to cover, at least in part, some of its biggest schemes. A national employment guarantee scheme, for instance, has a budget of Rs86,000 crore this fiscal year.
Or, urea subsidy costs some ₹1.19 trillion and ₹1.16 trillion has been earmarked for road works under the ministry of road transport and highways, or MoRTH. The Indian government plans to bid out half of the national highway projects planned for fiscal 2027–a spending of Rs75,000 crore on 5,000 km–under a build-operate-transfer (BoT) toll model involving private road developers after a long break since 2014, said three government officials aware of the new plan.
The push, which hinges on a new, investor-friendly so-called master concession agreement or MCA, is expected to tap into private capital in highway construction. The private sector is optimistic of the BoT model given better revenue visibility thanks to factors such as high levels of use of FASTag, the toll deduction platform, and
. Read on livemint.com