The government of India plans to introduce a new national highway toll policy combining reasonable price reductions for consumers in the near future according to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari during his Wednesday address.
“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.”
During his answers in Rajya Sabha the minister stated that road infrastructure development requires substantial government spending which justifies toll charges. Gadkari mentioned that the Assam government plans to allocate ₹3 lakh crore for expenditures. “It is the policy of the department that when you want good road, you have to pay for it,” Gadkari said.
Toll plazas located within 60 kilometers of each other on the same national highway section in the same direction will not be permitted per the rules of 2008. The establishment of all user fee plazas on National Highways follows rules from the National Highways Fee Rules of 2008 along with the specific Concession Agreements.
“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.
The total toll revenue collected in India exceeded ₹64,809.86 crore during 2023-24 financial year while demonstrating a 35 percent increase compared to the preceding year. The collection was ₹27,503 crore in 2019-20.
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