The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was constituted by an Act of Parliament, the National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988. It is responsible for the development, maintenance and management of National Highways entrusted to it and/or matters connected or incidental thereto. NHAI enters into Concession Agreements for design, construction, operation and maintenance of highways by DBFOT Concessionaires. The Concessionaire builds NH stretches and during operation and maintenance of the said stretch collects and retains the toll (user fee). In case of stretches developed on Govt. / NHAI Funds, NHAI engages OMT Concessionaire / User-Fee Collection Contractors.

During operation and maintenance of tolled stretches of National Highways (NHs), the DBFOT Concessionaires/ OMT Concessionaires / User Fee Collection Contractors have been mandated to collect user fee (toll) from road users. The applicable user-fee (toll) rates for various categories of vehicles shall be displayed at the respective Toll Plaza. Toll Information System (TIS) has been devised to put in place a mechanism, whereby the road users can ascertain through public domain the exact user fee (toll) rates for a particular plaza OR a particular journey between two stations through a selected route. In addition it will also help disseminate information about the concessions/ discounts to local and frequent users, provision of various facilities on toll road, important telephone numbers, etc.

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, an apex organisation under the Central Government, is entrusted with the task of formulating and administering, in consultation with other Central Ministries/Departments, State Governments/UT Administrations, organisations and individuals, policies for Road Transport, National Highways and Transport Research with a view to increasing the mobility and efficiency of the road transport system in the country. The Ministry has two wings : Roads wing and Transport wing.

Road Wing deals with development and maintenance of National Highway in the country. Transport wing deals with matter relating to Road Transport.

As on March 31, 2017, out of the total 55,886 Km (7097Km with Ministry of Road Transport & Highways) of National Highways that are planned to be developed and upgraded by NHAI, 39,581 Km of National Highways contracts have been awarded. Out of this 28,479 Km have been completed and work on 11,102 Km is in progress.

A sum of Rs. 2,326.50 crores was received by NHAI from Ministry of Road Transport & Highways through Union Budget in the form of Cess Fund for Capital Investment in National Highways from Central Road Fund. In addition, Rs. 5,649.02 crores was receivedfor development of other special Projects.

NHAI has raised Rs. 5,572.74 crores by way of issue of Capital Gain Tax-free Bonds under Section 54-EC of the Income Tax Act, 1961, apart from raising Rs. 27,545 crores from Taxable Bonds.

NHAI has been rated AAA, the highest credit rating, by all the major credit rating agencies such as CRISIL, ICRA, CARE & INDIA Ratings. These ratings enable NHAI to borrow funds at competitive rates. During the FY2017 of reporting, NHAI's Tax Free Domestic Bonds raising programme of Rs. 55,000 crores was assessed.

NHAI's bonds are listed in the BSE and NSE.