In a significant development, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has awarded Toll, Operate, and Transfer (TOT) bundles 13 and 14, covering a combined stretch of 273 km, for a total value of Rs 9,384 crores. This brings the total TOT bundles awarded in the fiscal year 2023-24 to Rs 15,968 crore, exceeding the monetization target of Rs 10,000 crores set for the current fiscal, as announced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Monday.
The TOT bundle 13, including the Kota Bypass and Stay Bridge on NH-76 in Rajasthan, along with the Gwalior-Jhansi section of NH-75 in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, has been awarded to IRB Infrastructure Trust for Rs 1,683 crores.
TOT bundle 14, comprising the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, including the Delhi-Hapur section of NH-9 in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, and Binjabahal to Teliebani section of NH-6 in Odisha, has been secured by Cube Highways and Infrastructure for Rs 7,701 crore.
As per the road ministry’s statement, the concession period for TOT bundles is set at 20 years, during which concessionaires are responsible for maintaining and operating the respective stretches. In return, concessionaires will collect and retain user fees for these stretches based on prescribed fee rates under NH Fee Rules.
Earlier in October 2023, NHAI had awarded TOT bundles 11 and 12, covering a combined length of 400 km, for Rs 6,584 crore. These bundles included projects such as Allahabad Bypass on NH19 in Uttar Pradesh and Lalitpur – Sagar – Lakhnadon section in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
The TOT model, designed to encourage private participation in the highway sector, has played a crucial role in unlocking the value of the road network and contributing to the development of a world-class national highway network in India.
