On March 19, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that the government will soon introduce a new policy for toll charges on national highways, providing consumers with a fair concession.
In response to questions in the Rajya Sabha, the minister emphasized that the government is investing heavily in road infrastructure, making toll charges essential. “If you want quality roads, you have to pay for them,” Gadkari stated.
In Assam, he said the government plans to make expenditure of Rs 3 lakh crore.
“We are making a lot of big roads, four lanes, six lanes. I am making a lot of bridges from the Brahmaputra. We are raising funds from the market. So without a toll, we cannot do it. But still, we are very considerable. We are only charging toll on four lanes, not on the two-lane paved shoulder.” According to the rules of 2008, toll plaza on the same section of the national highway and in the same direction cannot be established within 60 kilometers.
“So actually, there are some exceptions. After completing this session, we are going to declare a new policy for the toll, where the problem will be resolved and we will give reasonable concession to the consumer, and there will be no debate on particularly about the toll,” he said, adding that the problems would be resolved.
All user fee plazas on National Highways are established as per the provision of National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 and the respective Concession Agreement.
Total toll collection in India touched Rs 64,809.86 crore in 2023-24, a 35 per cent rise over the previous year. The collection was Rs 27,503 crore in 2019-20. (Agencies)
