Biztro

Amidst all the brouhaha over GST, a significant reform has slipped through. The cabinet has allowed the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to lease 75 operational highway projects. This is attractive to foreign investors seeking regular returns without the headache of fresh construction. A source tells us that PM Narendra Modi sat on this proposal—which will yield big revenues for the government—because he was app­rehensive about being accused of selling off Indian assets. Now that the deed is done, the NHAI has been stressing that the assets remain with the country and that there has not been any ­distress sale.