The ministry will provide technical assistance and organise training programmes as part of the proposed support. Odisha, Bihar and West Bengal have expressed interest in participating in the initiative, according to an official.
The assistance will draw on the ministry’s pool of experienced engineers and officials. They will provide technical guidance to state agencies and support efforts to strengthen the planning and execution of highway projects. The proposal is intended to help states use established practices while developing their own road infrastructure programmes.
The ministry is also highlighting alternative contracting and financing arrangements for state highways and expressways. These include Model Concession Agreements, Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) projects and annuity-based arrangements. The options will be presented through structured handholding and capacity-building support for state authorities.
The proposal was discussed at the ministry’s recent Chintan Shivir 2026, a national conclave on highway infrastructure. The event was held at Tent City 2 near the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, in Gujarat’s Narmada district. The discussions focused on sharing highway-building expertise with states and improving their capacity to deliver road projects. The ministry has not disclosed a timeline for deploying the officials or details of the training programmes. The initiative’s implementation will therefore depend on further engagement between the ministry and interested states.