Toll goes up on 24 highways

April 2, 2010

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New Delhi: The road transport and highways ministry has increased toll rates on 24 stretches of public-funded highways from Wednesday.

“As per the rules published in 2008, fee is to be revised every year
effective from April 1. At present, the National Highways Authority of
India (NHAI) is collecting user fee on 24 sections as per the provisions of the new rules,” said the notification.

The revised toll rates will be derived by adding sum of 3% and 40% of the wholesale price index to the existing rates.

Out of a total of 145 toll plazas in the country, 98 are public and the balance are managed by contractors who have developed the stretch on a build operate and transfer (BoT) basis. Public roads are essentially those in which funding is done by the government either on BoT (annuity) mode or as a normal contract. In both the cases, the government bears the traffic risks and is entitled to toll revenues.

Of the 98 plazas funded by the government, only 24 are covered by the 2008 toll rules. On the balance public funded highways, there will be no hike as they are governed by the toll rules of 1997, which stipulates a revision every five years.

Meanwhile, the ministry has been deferring the proposed amendment in the National Highways Fee (Determination and Collection of Rates) Rules, 2008. The empowered group of ministers (EGoM) on highways’ last meeting earlier this month was inconclusive on the amendment. The EGoM is headed by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee. Union transport minister Kamal Nath and Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia are the other two members.

In the revised toll policy, the ministry plans to reintroduce the system of monthly passes for commercial vehicles. The idea of monthly passes was first mooted in the government’s toll policy in 1997. However, the provision was removed in the policy announced during ex-transport minister T R Baalu’s regime in December 2008.

Transporters defer strike
The All India Motor Transport Congress, an umbrella organisation of transporters in the country, has decided to defer the nationwide strike called from April 5. Transport minister Kamal Nath intervened in the matter on Tuesday and persuaded them to call off the strike. However, the strike will take place in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry due to local issues, AIMTC president G R Shanmugappa said. The ministry has promised implementation of composite national permit regime by May this year. For abolition of anti-dumping duty on import of radial tyre, the ministry will sensitise the commerce ministry.

Source:dnaindia.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Uncategorized

One comment on “Toll goes up on 24 highways” Post your comment

ananda on June 22nd, 2011 3:06 pm

Toll tax to use the road is collected under section 7 of the national highway act, 1956. . Toll tax is Fees for services or benefits rendered on national highways. but in case of NH 1 of road — Delhi to Jalandhar Road is not providing any service in the present condition but it is providing discomfort to the road user. But the toll is collected on this road which is in contravention of section 7.