The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was constituted in 1988 under section 3(1) of the National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988, and began operations in February 1995. It serves as the nodal agency responsible for the development, maintenance, and management of national highways in India, operating under executive powers granted by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). NHAI functions within the infrastructure, transportation, and roads and highways sectors. The Government of India holds complete ownership of NHAI. The organization's mandate is defined by the National Highways Act, 1956 and the National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988. Among its ventures is the National Highways Infra Trust (NHIT), an infrastructure investment trust sponsored by NHAI and registered with SEBI in October 2020. NHIT manages a portfolio of operational toll roads in several Indian states, monetizing road assets through a long-term concession model.