The Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) was implemented in January 2016 under the supervision of Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. The purpose of this initiative was to encourage new investments in road infrastructure projects in India. The Hybrid Annuity Model has become highly relevant, particularly after the Budget 2022-23, which emphasized enhancing India's infrastructure considerably.

Around 82% of the 239 km of highway projects awarded by NHAI during the first half of FY2025-26 (April–September 2025) were granted under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), according to India Infrastructure Research. This is substantially higher than the 51% HAM share reported for the first half of FY2021-22. 

Let's delve further and gain a comprehensive understanding of the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) / HAM project

What is the Hybrid Annuity Model?

Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) procurement and payment framework that combines features of the EPC and BOT-Annuity models.

Under the standard Indian highway HAM structure, the government provides 40% of the project cost as construction support in milestone-linked instalments, while the concessionaire arranges the remaining 60%.

Photo: Delhi Mumbai Expressway

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) pays 40% of the overall project expenditures per the Hybrid Annuity Model. The release of this payment is divided into ten equal installments, each dependent upon the successful accomplishment of specific project objectives. The road developer is responsible for arranging the remaining 60% of the fund. A portion of the project cost, around 20 to 25 percent, is financed by the developer. The remaining portion of the funds is obtained through debt collection.

What is the EPC Model?

The EPC model, which stands for "Engineering, Procurement, and Construction," is a method of constructing infrastructure in which the government pays private firms to construct roadways. After the completion of the road, the private participants are no longer responsible for anything. They are not involved in the ownership of roads, the collection of tolls, or the maintenance of roads. These things are under the authority of the government.

What is the BOT- Annuity Model?

The BOT (Build, Operate, Transfer) infrastructure construction model involves private firms' participation over an extended period. They are responsible for constructing, operating, and maintaining the roads for a predetermined amount of time, for example, ten to fifteen years. Following that, the ownership of roads is returned to the government.

The private parties are responsible for securing funding for the project following the BOT model. To construct and maintain the roads, the private players receive a certain amount of money as an annuity. BOT-Annuity is the name given to this particular annuity charge.

How does HAM Work?

The Hybrid-Annuity Model (HAM) involves the government offering a predetermined payment to the private developer (concessionaire) as an annuity over the concession period, which usually spans 15-20 years. The annuity payment sufficiently covers the expenses incurred by the developer and ensures a satisfactory return on investment. The developer takes over responsibility for the project's design, construction, funding, and operation throughout the concession period. Upon the expiration of the concession period, the project's ownership is handed to the government.

Key Features of the HAM Model

Here are some important features of the HAM model,

• The concessionaire for the project is chosen through a bidding procedure that is both open and competitive.

•  Life Cycle Cost serves as the single bid parameter. 

• The concessionaire is responsible for ensuring that the project is maintained until the conclusion of the concession period. 

• The concession period encompasses both the duration of construction and a fixed period of 15 years for operations.

• The government is responsible for the collection of tolls. 

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The Importance of the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) in India

The Hybrid Annuity Model has the potential to provide support in enhancing the country's infrastructure investment. It may result in commutes that are both more efficient and more beneficial. The model is very useful in India because of the following reasons,

• When compared to the BOT model, the HAM model has been successful. Private players were unwilling to invest under the BOT model because they were required to raise the total quantity of money through either equity or loans. 

• It is essential to have the HAM model because it allows for the risk of any project to be split between a private player and the government. 

• Developers are protected from the "traffic risk" risk by a payment structure based on annuities. Because of this strategy, the government can construct roads and generate higher social returns, which is a significant advantage. 

• Launching and completing road projects can result in improved road conditions, more comfortable journeys, and less congestion.

Key HAM Projects

Here is a list of a few projects under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) in India, along with their completion and start dates:

Conclusion

In summary, the hybrid annuity model (HAM) demonstrates the concept of a public-private partnership (PPP) by distributing the obligations and risks of a project between the two parties involved. Under this contract, both public and private entities have specific responsibilities to complete the project. Therefore, the degree of participation of contractual parties in the hybrid annuity model (HAM) is significantly greater as compared to the engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) and the build, operate, transfer model (BOT).

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