Toll charges in India are typically revised annually to align with inflation, and notices announcing the hikes have been issued in local newspapers across the nation. Nearly 1,100 toll plazas are affected by these revisions.
A senior official at the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) explained that the revision, delayed during the election period, is now in effect from June 3. The funds generated from toll charges, along with fuel taxation, play a crucial role in financing the expansion of national highways.
Over the past decade, India has invested significantly in expanding its national highways, boasting a network spanning approximately 1,46,000 kilometres, the second-largest globally.
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Toll collections have witnessed a substantial increase, soaring from 252 billion rupees in 2018/19 to over 540 billion rupees in the 2022/23 fiscal year. This surge is attributed to rising road traffic and an expansion in the number of toll plazas and charges.
The toll fee adjustments, based on changes in the wholesale price index (CPI)-based inflation, affect around 855 user fee plazas on the national highway network. Out of these, approximately 675 are publicly funded, while the remaining 180 are operated by concessionaires. (With inputs from PTI)
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