New Delhi: A policy for tolls on national highways that provides a “reasonable concession to the consumers” will soon be announced by the central government said Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways.
It should be noted that in 2023–2024, India’s total toll collection reached Rs 64,809.86 crore, a 35 per cent increase from the year before. In 2019–20, the total amount collected was Rs 27,503 crore.
The 2008 regulations prohibit the establishment of toll plazas within 60 kilometres on the same stretch of national highway and in the same direction.
Union Minister Gadkari asserted that the central government is spending a lot on building road infrastructure and therefore toll charges are necessary while replying to queries in the Rajya Sabha.
He said the policy of the department is that “when you want good road, you have to pay for it.”
He further noted that the department is focusing on making roads; four lanes and 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 a toll on four lanes, not on the two-lane paved shoulder,” he added.
“After completing this [Budget] 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.
The National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, and the corresponding Concession Agreement serve as the guidelines for the establishment of all user fee plazas on national highways.
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