The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is set to bring global expertise to the development of wayside amenities (WSAs) on national highways. Instead of road contractors and concessionaires, NHAI will now invite separate bids from companies specialising in creating these facilities. This move aims to introduce innovative designs and products to enhance return on investment (ROI) and improve the user experience on highways.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) plans to establish approximately 1,000 WSAs over the next five years, with one every 50 km along national highways. Of these, 800 will be developed under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. NHAI will provide land, necessary permissions, and supervision, while private players will handle development, operation and maintenance (O&M) for 15-30 years.
Currently, 198 WSAs have been awarded, and 162 are in the bidding stage. Estimated returns for investors range from 15-30 per cent on an average capital investment of Rs 10-100 million.