The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) to establish the country’s first permanent research centre focused on the economics of transportation, mobility and logistics. The initiative is designed to support data-driven decision-making in the transport sector, reports
IANS, a partner of TV BRICS.
The proposed NHAI Centre for Economics of Transportation, Mobility and Logistics will be hosted at NCAER with initial funding support from NHAI. It is expected to provide a structured platform for applied economic research, contributing to long-term planning and investment strategies in the national highway system.
Officials from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways noted that the centre will play a key role in generating analytical insights for policy development.
Research activities will cover a broad range of areas, including highway economics, freight logistics, modal integration, toll systems, road safety, and the economic impact of infrastructure investments. The findings are expected to support government institutions in enhancing efficiency, sustainability and service quality across the transport network.
The centre will also function as a knowledge hub, publishing policy briefs and research papers while organising expert consultations and academic events. According to the source, the initiative is planned for a 10-year period and is expected to contribute to the development of a modern and efficient national highway ecosystem.