NHAI Hikes Toll Rate by 5% Nationwide From Today
New Delhi, 3rd June 2024: Drivers using the national highway network will face higher toll fees starting today. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced a nationwide toll rate increase averaging five percent. Initially scheduled for April 1, the toll hike was postponed due to the Lok Sabha elections.
A senior NHAI official explained that the toll fee increase is linked to the Wholesale Price Index (CPI) based inflation. Approximately 855 toll plazas across the national highway network collect user charges in accordance with the National Highway Fee (Determination and Collection of Rates) Rules, 2008.
“The increase in toll fees and taxes on fuel products is essential for the expansion and maintenance of national highways,” the official stated. However, the annual toll fee hike has been met with criticism from political parties and transport organizations. They argue that higher toll fees raise the cost of transporting essential goods and impose an economic burden on passengers.
The toll hike is expected to benefit companies such as IRB Infrastructure Developers and Ashok Buildcon Limited, which are involved in highway construction and maintenance.
Over the past decade, the government has invested billions of dollars in expanding the national highway network. India’s national highways span approximately 1,46,000 kilometers, making it the second-largest road network globally. Toll collections have seen a significant rise, from around Rs 25,000 crore in 2018-19 to Rs 54,000 crore in 2022-23.
