Toll Tax Hike: Driving on National Highways and Expressways may now be a bit expensive from April 1. This is because the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is preparing to increase the toll tax .
According to the report that came out on Sunday, there will be an increase of 5-10 percent in toll tax. This change in tariff takes place every year as per the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.
According to a report in ABP News, the proposal for the new rate of toll tax will be sent to all the Project Implementation Units (PIU) of NHAI by March 25. The new rates will come into effect from April 1 after the approval of the Ministry of Road and Transport.
If reports are to be believed, cars and light vehicles will be taxed 5 per cent more per trip and toll tax for heavy vehicles could be increased to 10 per cent.
Current toll tax rates
In 2022, the toll tax range was increased from 10 to 15 percent, increasing the tariff prices for all types of vehicles plying on national highways by Rs 10 and Rs 60. At present, toll tax is being collected on the expressway at the rate of Rs 2.19 per kilometer.
The 135 km long, six-lane ‘Eastern Peripheral Expressway’ and the Delhi-Meerut Expressway will also witness a hike in toll rates this year.
Monthly Pass
According to a report in Mint, the monthly pass facility given to residents living within an area of 20 kilometers of the toll plaza will also be increased by 10 per cent.
As per the National Road Fee Regulation 2008, there is no provision for exemption for people living in a particular radius of user fee plaza.
However, if one owns a non-commercial vehicle and lives within 20 kms of the charge plaza, he can take a monthly pass at the rate of Rs 315 per month for the financial year 2022-23 for unlimited travel through the fee plaza Is.
Toll collection increased on National Highway
News18 quoted an analysis of the data as saying that during the financial year 2022, the toll collected on National Highways was Rs 33,881.22 crore, which was at least 21 percent more than the previous year’s collection.
Since 2018-19, the amount of toll collected on National Highways in the country has registered a growth of 32 per cent with a total fee of Rs 1,48,405.30 crore.
According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the total toll collection through FASTag at fee plazas on both national and state highways in 2022 stood at an average of Rs 50,855 crore or Rs 139.32 crore per day.
In December last year, the Delhi High Court had sought response from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Center on a plea challenging the rule mandating double payment of toll tax for vehicles without FASTag.
The High Court had given four weeks time to the authorities to file their reply and listed the matter for further hearing on April 18.
