Ultimate ownership of Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will remain with NHAI

SPV to take over financial liabilities, but traffic risks remain with NHAI

A special purpose vehicle (SPV), DME Development, would get the road assets of the marquee Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, but the ultimate ownership and contract terms would continue to be in the name of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), officials told Business Standard.

They said legal formalities for the transfer of the assets, operation, and maintenance liabilities were underway and would be completed by the year-end. 

The Union government is also in discussion with the Maharashtra government to bear the land acquisition cost of a spur road that would connect the expressway with Mumbai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT).

The newly-formed SPV would