The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced the establishment of the country’s first dedicated research centre focused on transportation, mobility, and logistics economics. The centre will be set up at the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) in New Delhi and is expected to play a key role in shaping the future of India’s rapidly expanding transport sector.
The initiative marks a strategic collaboration between NHAI and NCAER, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). While NHAI will provide financial support for the project, NCAER will leverage its research expertise and engage with partner institutions to develop a comprehensive knowledge ecosystem focused on transport and logistics.
India has witnessed unprecedented growth in highway construction, freight movement, and logistics infrastructure over the past decade. As investments in roads, expressways, multimodal transport networks, and logistics corridors continue to rise, policymakers increasingly require evidence-based insights to improve planning, efficiency, and long-term sustainability. The proposed research centre is designed to address this need by generating high-quality analytical studies and policy recommendations.
The centre will focus on a wide range of subjects, including highway economics, freight transportation, logistics efficiency, modal integration, regional economic development, tolling strategies, asset monetisation, road safety interventions, and the adoption of emerging technologies in highway operations and maintenance. Through rigorous research and data analysis, it aims to support informed decision-making by government agencies and infrastructure planners.
One of the key objectives of the centre is to strengthen the link between research and policymaking. Studies conducted by the institution are expected to assist the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, NHAI, and other public bodies in developing policies that improve connectivity, reduce logistics costs, enhance user experience, and support sustainable infrastructure growth.
Beyond research, the centre will also serve as a knowledge-sharing platform. It will publish policy briefs, working papers, and research reports while organizing workshops, consultations, seminars, and academic engagements. These activities are expected to promote capacity building and encourage deeper engagement with transportation economics among policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders.
To ensure effective governance and academic rigor, the centre will be guided by an Advisory Committee comprising economists, transportation experts, public policy specialists, academicians, and senior representatives from NHAI and NCAER. Additionally, a Steering Committee established by NHAI will oversee research priorities and evaluate outputs. NHAI has committed to supporting the institution for an initial period of ten years.
The creation of this first-of-its-kind centre reflects India’s growing recognition of the importance of research-led infrastructure development. As the country seeks to improve logistics efficiency and strengthen national connectivity, the centre is expected to emerge as a vital resource for shaping transport policies and supporting India’s long-term economic growth ambitions.
