NHAI Partners with NCAER to Launch Dedicated Centre for Transport and Logistics Research

New Delhi, 23 June 2026: In a major initiative to strengthen evidence-based policymaking and research in the transportation sector, 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. The centre, to be housed at NCAER, will be India’s first permanent and independent institution dedicated to research on transportation economics, mobility, and logistics.

The MoU was signed at NHAI headquarters in the presence of NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav, NCAER Director General, and senior officials from both organisations. The initiative reflects NHAI’s commitment to integrating research, data analytics, and evidence-based decision-making into the planning and management of the country’s rapidly expanding national highway network.

Speaking on the occasion, Santosh Kumar Yadav said the partnership would provide a dedicated platform for high-quality research and policy analysis, helping strengthen planning, investment, and asset management decisions in the transportation sector. NHAI has made a founding contribution to establish the centre, while NCAER will seek support from allied institutions and partners.

The centre will undertake applied economic research in key areas such as national highway economics, freight logistics, modal integration, toll policy, asset monetisation, road safety, technology adoption, and the regional economic impact of highway investments. Its findings will support the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, NHAI, and other government agencies in designing policies that improve efficiency, sustainability, and user experience across the transport ecosystem.

Apart from research, the centre will function as a knowledge hub by publishing policy briefs, working papers, flagship reports, and organising stakeholder consultations, workshops, and academic engagements. It will also contribute to capacity building and talent development in transportation economics.

Supported by NHAI for the next ten years, the centre is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping informed policies and advancing India’s vision of a modern, efficient, and world-class transportation and logistics network.