• Source:JND
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Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that the government will soon introduce a new toll policy aimed at providing reasonable concessions to consumers. Addressing the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, he stated that while toll collection remains essential for funding India’s growing road infrastructure, the government is committed to making the system more user-friendly.

The government is considering replacing traditional toll collection with an annual pass system on national highways to improve efficiency and convenience. Speaking in Parliament, Nitin  Gadkari highlighted the need for a streamlined approach that benefits road users while maintaining infrastructure development.

The union minister mentioned that the government is testing barrier-free toll collection through pilot projects at Gharonda, Choryasi, Nemili, UER-II and the Dwarka Expressway. These projects include a satellite-based tolling system and an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) FASTag system to facilitate seamless toll collection.

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Reaffirming the importance of tolls, Gadkari stated, “It is the policy of the department that when you want good roads, you have to pay for it.” However, he assured that the government is considerate and currently charges toll fees only on four-lane highways, not on two-lane paved shoulder roads.

Addressing concerns over toll plaza placements, he referred to the National Highways Fee Rules of 2008, which prohibit establishing toll plazas within 60 kilometres of the same highway section. While exceptions exist, he assured that the new policy will resolve such issues.

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India’s toll revenue surged to Rs 64,809.86 crore in 2023-24, marking a 35 per cent increase from Rs 27,503 crore in 2019-20, the minister said. He also emphasised the need for transparency in toll rates, stating that fee structures are displayed at each toll plaza, published online and updated annually in newspapers.