The Modi government is working on a plan to reduce the toll payout for regular national highways’ users. Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced that a new policy for national highway toll charges would be introduced shortly, offering reasonable concessions to users.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is developing annual and lifetime toll charges for national highways, with proposed rates of Rs 3000 yearly and Rs 30,000 for 15 years as a single payment. This initiative aims to ensure consistent government revenue whilst improving travel efficiency at toll plazas.
In response to Rajya Sabha queries, he noted that committees have suggested further discussions on satellite-based tolling, considering security, privacy, breach risks and operational control aspects.
Toll collection
The minister emphasised that toll charges are essential due to substantial infrastructure investment. He stated, “It is the policy of the department that when you want a good road, you have to pay for it.”
The 2008 regulations stipulate that toll plazas on identical national highway sections and directions must maintain a minimum distance of 60 kilometres.
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He further explained that post-session, a new toll policy would be announced to address existing issues, offering fair concessions to users and eliminating related debates.
National Highway toll plazas operate according to the National Highways Fee Rules, 2008 and respective Concession Agreements. Total toll collection reached Rs 64,809.86 crore in 2023-24, showing a 35% increase from the previous year.
Regarding satellite-based tolling, Gadkari explained that NavIC requires additional satellite networks and receiver development for accurate positioning. He mentioned that expert committees have suggested implementing corridor-based projects using automatic number plate recognition FASTag systems for barrier-less tolling.
