You may soon experience the smooth Abu Dhabi roads on Indian national highways! Here’s how

In first-of-its kind initiative, Abu Dhabi is keen on investing Rs 35,000 crore on 50 Indian highway projects.

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) wants to take up the projects on a toll-operate-transfer (TOT) basis, under which the roads already built by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) are awarded to the private sector in lieu of an upfront fee.

A senior roads ministry official told ET, “Discussions are still on (over) whether these projects will be awarded in a portfolio or should every project be awarded separately. The upfront fee (that the) private partner pays will be calculated on the future toll collection projections."

The proposal is likely to come up during Abu Dhabi crown prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan India visit.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Indian government wants to boost investment in the sector.

Roads and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said his ministry is targeting 10,000 kilometres in the current fiscal.

The Indian government is trying various models to inject private investment in road projects.