Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has said that in a democratic system, for the benefit of common people, the government believes in the decentralisation and monetisation of public assets.

The Union Minister today launched the NHAI-sponsored Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT), which was listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and received a strong response from investors.

The maiden public issue of the RIIT was listed on the BSE on March 24, 2026. The listing ceremony was held in the presence of Union Minister Gadkari, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and NHAI.

Addressing the event, Gadkari highlighted that since 2014, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the government had undertaken several major infrastructure initiatives. He noted that during the government’s first tenure, nearly ₹3 lakh crore worth of stressed and non-performing infrastructure projects were turned profitable, with investments successfully returned to investors.

Gadkari added that the current situation has significantly improved, as the government ensures all necessary clearances from different ministries are obtained in advance, thereby reducing risks associated with such projects.

The minister also acknowledged that there had initially been scepticism about launching the initiative, but the strong response from investors has boosted the government’s confidence.

He further stated that the government possesses a large pool of infrastructure assets which, if utilised effectively, could mobilise investments of up to ₹8 lakh crore for infrastructure development, significantly boosting the country’s economy.

The RIIT IPO received an overwhelming response from investors and was oversubscribed nearly 14 times, with participation from a wide range of investor categories. The strong subscription reflected growing investor confidence in India’s growth story, the strength of its financial markets, and the Government of India’s transparent and reform-oriented asset monetisation programme.

The NHAI-sponsored Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust has been designed to unlock the value of operational National Highway assets while providing a high-quality, long-term investment opportunity, particularly for retail and domestic investors.

The initiative is considered a significant step towards broadening public participation in the National Highways sector and further strengthening the country’s infrastructure financing ecosystem.