Govt plans uniform toll policy for cheaper highway commutes: Gadkari

Nitin Gadkari

Govt plans uniform toll policy for cheaper highway commutes: Gadkari

Share This News

India is set to introduce a uniform toll policy, a move that’s expected to greatly benefit users of the national highways. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced it on Monday. Gadkari also noted that India’s highway infrastructure has now reached par with that of the United States, a goal that was aimed for.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced that the government is working on a uniform toll policy to tackle the issues faced by commuters on national highways. This move aims to address the growing discontent among highway users who are frustrated with high toll charges and subpar road conditions.

As part of this initiative, the ministry plans to introduce a barrier-less global navigation satellite system (GNSS)-based toll collection system on national highways, making the toll payment process more seamless and efficient.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has assured that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is taking commuter complaints on social media seriously and acting strongly against contractors responsible for the issues. Interestingly, despite private cars accounting for about 60% of national highway traffic, they contribute only 20-26% to the toll revenue.

Blis1

Over the past decade, toll charges have increased as more stretches of highways have come under the tolling system, leading to growing discontent among users. India’s total toll collection reached an all-time high of Rs 64,809.86 crore in 2023-24, marking a 35% increase from the previous year. This significant rise is part of a larger trend, with toll collections having grown nearly 2.6 times over the past five years, from Rs 25,154.76 crore in 2018-19.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has revealed that all toll plazas on National Highways are set up in accordance with the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, and respective concession agreements. Expressing optimism, Gadkari stated that the ministry is poised to break its previous record of constructing 37 km of highways per day, achieved in the 2020-21 financial year. As of now, over 7,000 km of highways have been built in the current financial year. Typically, the pace of highway construction accelerates during the February-March period. Notably, India’s highway construction pace had reached an all-time high of 37 km per day in the 2020-21 financial year.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has made significant progress in constructing national highways over the past few years. India’s highway construction achievements over the past four years include:

  • – 2020-21: A record 13,435.4 km of highways were built
  • – 2021-22: 10,457.2 km of highways were constructed
  • – 2022-23: 10,331 km of highways were completed
  • – 2023-24: 12,349 km of highways were successfully constructed

For the current financial year, the ministry aims to award highway projects spanning 13,000 km. In comparison, the ministry awarded projects covering 8,580.5 km in 2023-24. However, the pace of awarding highway projects has slowed down due to the absence of a new scheme to replace the “Bharatmala Pariyojana” ¹.

Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, has highlighted significant changes in the approval process for highway projects under the Bharatmala Pariyojana.  Previously, the ministry had the authority to approve projects worth up to Rs 3,000 crore, but now, projects exceeding Rs 1,000 crore require Cabinet approval. This shift has resulted in the ministry submitting projects valued between Rs 50,000 and Rs 60,000 crore for Cabinet clearance. Once approved, work on these projects will commence.

“The imposition of this condition has slowed down the pace of awarding highway projects,” Union Minister Nitin Gadkari noted.

“Upon receiving clearance, we will promptly initiate work on these projects,” the minister stated, emphasizing the ministry’s readiness to move forward with the approved projects.

Launched in 2017, the Bharatmala Pariyojana aims to improve connectivity and reduce logistic costs across the country, covering 34,800 km. As of October 31, 2024, the government has awarded projects spanning 26,425 km and constructed 18,714 km of highways.

To minimize delays, cost overruns, and disputes, an inter-ministerial panel reviewing major highway projects has advised the ministry to accept bids only after securing at least 90% of the required land and obtaining all necessary statutory clearances, including those related to forests and the environment.

With the second-largest road network globally, India’s National Highways stretch across a vast expanse of 1,46,195 km, serving as the country’s primary arterial network and playing a vital role in facilitating connectivity and economic growth.

IMG-20250103-WA0015
IMG-20250214-WA0000