NHAI signs MoU with NCAER to establish Centre for Economics of Transportation, Mobility and Logistics

📌 Summary:

• NHAI signed an MoU with NCAER to set up the "NHAI Centre for Economics of Transportation, Mobility and Logistics" — India's first permanent, independent research centre dedicated to transport economics
• Set up with a founding contribution from NHAI; NCAER to mobilise further contributions from allied institutions and partners
• The Centre will undertake applied research on National Highway economics, freight logistics, modal integration, toll policy, asset monetization, road safety and technology adoption
• Aim: strengthen evidence-based policymaking and improve planning, investment and asset-management decisions in the transport sector

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 Economy — infrastructure, logistics efficiency and data/evidence-based policymaking.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• NHAI functions under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH)
• NCAER = National Council of Applied Economic Research (a Delhi-based think tank)
• The Centre is India's first dedicated to the economics of transportation, mobility and logistics

🔑 Key Term: Asset monetization — leasing or monetising existing infrastructure assets to raise capital while retaining ownership (e.g., the National Monetisation Pipeline).