Latest news with #ToT
Time of India
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
ET Infra Roads & Highways Summit 2025: Spotlight on tech-enabled road development, ETInfra
Advt By , ETInfra NEW DELHI: The second edition of ET Infra's Roads and Highways Summit will be held on Friday in Delhi wherein stakeholders from the government and the private sector will deliberate and discuss on the various aspects of India's road sector development and the trajectory of the same in the coming government in the last one decade led by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has given a massive push to the development of the road sector. According to NHAI, the country has about 63 lakh km of road network, of which 1.46 lakh km are national highways on which 50 per cent of India's traffic is transported. The national highways have seen a growth of 60 per cent from 91,287 km since 2014 and the momentum summit will focus on incorporating the best of technologies and processes in the sector, which can enable timely execution of projects and bring about efficient technologies in toll collection, use of building information modeling, virtual or digital twins, advanced materials, robotics, automation and use of artificial intelligence are at the doorsteps of road sector, but how much of a differentiator or game changer they can be, will be deliberated at the summit's panel discussion amongst experts and the feasibility of varied financing modes currently available to the sector such as Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvITs) , monetisation through Toll-Operate-Transfer (ToT) will be deliberated upon. Revival of Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Model , which remains crucial for efficient roads and highways development, will also be enablement of road construction, sustainable practices as well as adoption of Intelligent Traffic System will also be on the agenda at the summit is being supported by industry partners Arcadis, Welspun Enterprises, Bosch, Autodesk, Xpedeon, CP Plus, ACE (Action Construction Equipment), Khaitan & Co, Equirus Raghnall, JSA, Dextra, associations include Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, NAREDCO, CSIR-Central Road Research Institute, Construction Industry Development Council, National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency Community partners include International Road Federation (India Chapter), Construction Federation of India, National Highways Builders Federation.
United News of India
05-07-2025
- Business
- United News of India
UP govt to make farmers brand ambassadors of natural farming
Lucknow, July 5 (UNI) In a major push to promote natural and organic farming across Uttar Pradesh, the state government has launched a unique initiative that turns farmers into brand ambassadors of sustainable agriculture. As part of this plan, 200 natural farming practitioners have been selected to serve as role models and spread awareness about the benefits of eco-friendly farming practices. Officials here today under this initiative, selected farmers will undergo specialised training through the 'Training of Trainers' (ToT) model. The first batch of master trainers will be prepared to conduct sessions at the divisional and district levels. This will enable the rapid adoption of modern yet sustainable farming techniques and encourage more farmers to shift to natural farming methods. The initiative is being implemented under the National Mission for Natural Farming with the support of Local Natural Farming Institutions, which will assist in training and capacity building. The goal is to create a strong foundation for natural farming in the state, making farmers more self-reliant and knowledgeable. These brand ambassador farmers will not only receive training and recognition but also play a critical role in spreading the message across the farming community. They will be given a distinct identity to help them lead awareness campaigns and training sessions, ultimately transforming the state's agricultural ecosystem. The initiative is expected to provide economic benefits to farmers while contributing to environmental sustainability. A detailed deployment plan for the first batch of trainers is also being prepared, outlining the number of trainers needed in each district and their areas of operation. This will help ensure effective implementation and maximise the scheme's impact. Officials said by empowering farmers and encouraging natural farming practices, the UP government aims to increase farmers' incomes, promote soil health, and lead Uttar Pradesh toward a greener and more sustainable agricultural future. UNI XC ARN
United News of India
23-06-2025
- Business
- United News of India
IIM Ahmedabad to train panchayats for fiscal self-reliance
New Delhi, June 23 (UNI): In a major step towards empowering grassroots governance, the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj has partnered with the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad to train panchayats in generating their own revenue and becoming financially self-reliant. A three-day Training of Trainers (ToT) programme on 'Generation of own source revenue by gram panchayats,' was inaugurated by Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj here on Monday, said a statement from the Ministry. Bharadwaj emphasised the national vision of creating Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) panchayats, with Own Source Revenue (OSR) seen as a key pillar in achieving this goal. He said, 'The capacity of panchayats to generate and manage their own revenue is not just about finances—it reflects their leadership, credibility, and institutional maturity.' Calling the ToT a bridge between knowledge and practice, Bharadwaj urged participants to return to their states with actionable strategies that encourage financial autonomy through local innovation and community engagement. He also lauded IIM Ahmedabad for developing a research-based, field-aligned training module, and called for greater involvement from states and local functionaries to implement the learnings in mission mode. States and Union Territories were encouraged to institutionalise revenue planning at the panchayat level, adopt the Ministry's model frameworks, and replicate similar trainings at state and district levels. 'This will help build panchayats that are financially resilient, administratively accountable, and development-ready,' Bharadwaj noted. Sushil Kumar Lohani, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, outlined several ongoing initiatives for fiscal empowerment, including the development of Model OSR Rules and a digital tax collection portal tailored to local needs. These, he said, will enhance transparency, ease of collection, and digital integration. The training modules, developed and delivered by faculty from IIM Ahmedabad, focus on both theoretical and practical dimensions of revenue generation. Addressing the gathering, Prof. Ranjan Kumar Ghosh from IIM Ahmedabad said the programme aims to transform panchayat governance from administrative compliance to proactive, citizen-centric financial planning. UNI AJ
Mint
12-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
NHAI eyes two InvIT rounds, auction of road bundles to private trusts for the first time
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) aims to raise ₹ 20,000 crore via two offerings from its own infrastructure investment trust (InvIT) this fiscal, two people aware of the plans said. It also plans to offer completed highway stretches to private InvITs for the first time, as part of an effort to raise up to ₹ 60,000 crore during the year, they said. NHAI bundles stretches of operational highways into InvITs and offers its units to investors, who get a regular share of road tolls. Ever since the highway InvIT programme was launched in 2020, the authority has had a single offering every year through its own InvIT–National Highways Infra Trust (NHIT). So far, it has raised ₹ 43,638 crore through InvITs. 'Under its asset monetization strategy document, NHAI has identified 24 highway stretches covering a distance of 1,472 km for monetizationin road project bundles could be added during the year to see that the exercise results in ₹ 50,000-60,000 crore resource mobilization for the government in FY26,' one of the two people cited above said on the condition of anonymity. 'This would be twice the ₹ 30,000 crore target given in the outcome budget for FY26.' NHAI believes the market for these trusts has matured, prompting it to consider two offerings this year, the person cited above said. Its last InvIT in FY25 raised ₹ 17,738 crore. NHIT currently has over 350 investors and close to 20 operational highway projects. To be sure, NHAI raised ₹ 28,724 crore in FY25 through InvITs and toll-operate-transfer (TOT) contracts, against a stiff targetof ₹ 40,000 crore. However, the overall highway sector could reach closer to its targeted monetisation of ₹ 1.6 trillion under National Monetisation Pipeline-1 between FY22 and FY25, closing the fiscal with about ₹ 1.58 trillion. "The two rounds of InvITs will help the trust to get over a third of monetization funds of about ₹ 60,000 crore expected to be targeted for FY26,' the second person said on the condition of anonymity. 'The road assets identified by NHAI for monetization itself is valued at over ₹ 40,000 crore, and if more bundles are identified, the ₹ 60,000 crore aspirational target could be easily achieved.' Besides, NHAI also plans to auction completed road and highway bundles directly to private sector InvITs, the second person said. This will be the first time that completed and revenue-generating highways under the 'toll operate transfer (ToT)' mechanism will be directly and exclusively offered to private InvITs, who could then mobilize global investments by offering subscription of InvIT units. So far, the government has been offering road projects by nomination only to NHIT, whileauctioning ToT projects to private highway developers who could then transfer the road bundles to their respective InvITs. An NHIT official said on the condition of anonymity that an exclusive InvIT round may be a possibility if it attracts dedicated trusts formed for infra investments. The official said several small road bundles with the NHAI could be offered only to InvITs to attract diverse investors from across the globe to invest in Indian infrastructure. Queries emailed to NHAI and the ministry of road transport and highways remained unanswered till press time. 'This is an interesting variation to the ToT (toll-operate-transfer) model and has pros and cons. As a pro, InvITs are considered to have low cost of capital for investors and, hence, should offer best prices. Further, the assurance of reduced competition may spur InvITs to participate more vigorously in ToT bids,' said Kuljit Singh, partner and national infrastructure leader, EY India. 'As a con, InvITs that can acquire a large number of ToT projects may be limited as they typically do not have any significant dry powder available for acquisitions. Typically, InvITs raise just as much funds as are necessary to deploy immediately. Hence, this variation may lead to a reduction in competition and impact revenue realisation,' said Singh. The NHAI monetizes assets through three key modes: toll-operate-transfer, InvITs, and securitization (project-based financing through special purpose vehicles). These instruments have helped the agency raise over ₹ 1.4 lakh crore across more than 6,100 km of national highways under the National Monetisation Pipeline 1. With a pool of ₹ 3.5-4 trillion of completed highway assets. The agency is set to contribute significantly to the government's asset monetization target to raise ₹ 10 trillion in the five years through 2030. Apart from InvITs, ToT is expected to remain the mainstay of monetisation in FY26. Though only one bundle of ToT worth ₹ 6,661 crore was monetised in FY25, NHAI, with a mix of small and large road bundles, is expected to get a better response in FY26. Already, under its monetisation strategy, NHAI has said it will offer three ToT bundles per quarter, including one smaller ( ₹ 2,000 crore), one medium ( ₹ 5,000 crore), and one large ( ₹ 9,000 crore) bundle. Earlier, only two bundles per quarter were targeted. Also, separate and additional InvIT phases would be launched during the year, while it would also mobilise funds by securitising future revenues from its ongoing and upcoming greenfield access-controlled highways and expressways. NHAI set up its InvIT in 2014 and owns a 16% stake. Other investors inNHIT includeCanada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP). AnInvIT is a pooled investment vehicle that allows investors to get exposure to income-yielding assets such as toll roads and power plants. To safeguard investors' interest, the Securities and Exchange Board of India mandated InvITs to invest at least 80% of their total assets in completed infrastructure projects that are capable of generating income. The remaining 20% can be invested in under-construction projects. The trust also needs to distribute at least 90% of its income to the unit-holders as dividends. There are about two dozen InvITs in the country. Some of these are Cube Highways Trust, India Infrastructure Trust, IRB Infrastructure Trust and IndInfravit Trust. Most of these either directly participate in auctions of ToT projects that are open to all, including developers, InvITs and fund houses, or get projects that are transferred by their parent highway development companies. There is no separate window for InvITs to acquire completed road projects.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Kerala government considers turnover tax exemption for breweries
T'puram: In what could mark a significant policy extension in favour of liquor manufacturers in Kerala, the state govt is now actively considering granting turnover tax (ToT) exemption to breweries, two-and-a-half years after a similar relief was extended to distilleries. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The file currently under review pertains to KALS Breweries Pvt Ltd — a brewery operating in the state — and has reached the ministerial level, signalling that a final decision is imminent. The move follows the state's decision in Dec 2022 to waive the 5% ToT on sales by distilleries to the Kerala State Beverages (Manufacturing and Marketing) Corporation. At that time, the govt cited public interest while invoking powers under Section 10 of the Kerala General Sales Tax Act, 1963. However, to cushion the revenue loss, the govt increased the sales tax on liquor by 4%. It resulted in a modest hike in Indian made foreign liquor's retail price, with most brands becoming costlier by Rs 10 to Rs 20. Now, a similar outcome appears likely with breweries as well. If the govt proceeds with granting ToT exemption to KALS Breweries, it could again result in a minor upward revision of retail liquor prices, unless alternative tax adjustments are introduced. While no official confirmation has been made, multiple layers of administrative action within the govt indicate that the matter is being taken forward with serious intent. An official digital record from the state's e-office system confirms the status of the request. A file titled "Representation from KALS Breweries Pvt Ltd for exemption of turnover tax" was formally opened on Nov 22, 2024. The file's internal movement offers a glimpse into how tax exemption proposals are examined and escalated within the state's bureaucratic framework. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On June 6, 2025, the joint secretary concerned in the taxes department made the file's two successive transfers to additional chief secretary (taxes) K R Jyothilal. The very next day, Jyothilal forwarded it to finance minister K N Balagopal, who, on the same day, passed it on to his additional private secretary. This sequence makes it clear that the proposal has reached the top political office in charge of taxation and fiscal matters in the state, in a relatively top speed for the movement of a govt file on policy matter. The 2022 exemption for distilleries was issued through govt order on Dec 1, 2022. The explanatory note attached to the notification described the move as being in the public interest, offering a policy rationale that the govt is likely to repeat while extending the same exemption to breweries. What makes this latest development particularly significant is its potential to establish a lasting policy precedent. If KALS Breweries is granted exemption from ToT, it will logically follow that any new brewery sanctioned in the state in future will also be entitled to the same benefit. This becomes crucial given the politically sensitive nature of licensing new breweries in the state. The idea of relaxing taxes for alcohol manufacturers has traditionally drawn criticism from various quarters, including public health advocates and opposition parties. However, from the govt's point of view, ToT exemptions serve as a fiscal tool that simplifies the taxation structure and encourages investment in the manufacturing sector. Given the precedent from 2022, when the removal of the turnover tax for distilleries was balanced with an increase in sales tax, a similar route may be adopted again. If so, consumers can expect a small increase in the price of beer and other brewed liquor brands in the near future.
