BREAKING NEWS

05-04-2025     3 رجب 1440

Reforming Toll Charges

March 20, 2025 |

The announcement by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari regarding a new policy on toll charges is a welcome move that could bring much-needed relief to commuters. With the rapid expansion of the country’s road network, particularly under the Bharatmala and expressway projects, a well-structured toll policy is essential to ensure fairness, efficiency, and sustainability in highway infrastructure development. The current toll system, while instrumental in funding road construction and maintenance, has long been a point of contention among commuters, transporters, and businesses. Reforming it with reasonable concessions is not just a necessity but an imperative for balancing economic growth with public convenience. At present, toll charges on national highways are often perceived as high, especially on newly developed expressways. While it is reasonable to charge users for high-quality roads, the financial burden on daily commuters, particularly those who rely on highways for work, can be excessive. Many highways lack viable alternative routes, effectively forcing people to pay high tolls even for short distances. A well-calibrated toll policy should take into account local traffic patterns and provide concessions for frequent travelers, ensuring that essential mobility does not become a costly affair. The logistics sector is one of the biggest contributors to India’s economy, and high toll charges increase transportation costs, affecting the price of goods and services. A revised toll policy that reduces costs for commercial vehicles on essential routes could enhance supply chain efficiency and make our goods more competitive in global markets. Moreover, sectors like agriculture, which depend heavily on road transport, would benefit from lower toll expenses, ensuring better farm-to-market connectivity. Another major challenge in India’s toll system is the lack of transparency in toll collection and the continued presence of manual toll booths despite the rollout of FASTag. Long queues at toll plazas not only waste fuel but also lead to unnecessary delays, impacting productivity. The new policy should focus on phasing out traditional toll booths and moving towards GPS-based tolling, ensuring charges are levied fairly based on actual road usage. While providing concessions is essential, it is equally important to ensure that private investors in road infrastructure do not lose interest. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) play a crucial role in financing India’s highways, and the toll system must remain viable for investors. A sustainable model should balance reasonable charges for users with adequate revenue generation for infrastructure maintenance and expansion. The upcoming toll policy should be designed to promote fairness, economic efficiency, and technological advancement. A transparent, user-friendly, and equitable toll system will go a long way in ensuring that our road infrastructure serves the interests of both commuters and the economy at larg

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Reforming Toll Charges

March 20, 2025 |

The announcement by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari regarding a new policy on toll charges is a welcome move that could bring much-needed relief to commuters. With the rapid expansion of the country’s road network, particularly under the Bharatmala and expressway projects, a well-structured toll policy is essential to ensure fairness, efficiency, and sustainability in highway infrastructure development. The current toll system, while instrumental in funding road construction and maintenance, has long been a point of contention among commuters, transporters, and businesses. Reforming it with reasonable concessions is not just a necessity but an imperative for balancing economic growth with public convenience. At present, toll charges on national highways are often perceived as high, especially on newly developed expressways. While it is reasonable to charge users for high-quality roads, the financial burden on daily commuters, particularly those who rely on highways for work, can be excessive. Many highways lack viable alternative routes, effectively forcing people to pay high tolls even for short distances. A well-calibrated toll policy should take into account local traffic patterns and provide concessions for frequent travelers, ensuring that essential mobility does not become a costly affair. The logistics sector is one of the biggest contributors to India’s economy, and high toll charges increase transportation costs, affecting the price of goods and services. A revised toll policy that reduces costs for commercial vehicles on essential routes could enhance supply chain efficiency and make our goods more competitive in global markets. Moreover, sectors like agriculture, which depend heavily on road transport, would benefit from lower toll expenses, ensuring better farm-to-market connectivity. Another major challenge in India’s toll system is the lack of transparency in toll collection and the continued presence of manual toll booths despite the rollout of FASTag. Long queues at toll plazas not only waste fuel but also lead to unnecessary delays, impacting productivity. The new policy should focus on phasing out traditional toll booths and moving towards GPS-based tolling, ensuring charges are levied fairly based on actual road usage. While providing concessions is essential, it is equally important to ensure that private investors in road infrastructure do not lose interest. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) play a crucial role in financing India’s highways, and the toll system must remain viable for investors. A sustainable model should balance reasonable charges for users with adequate revenue generation for infrastructure maintenance and expansion. The upcoming toll policy should be designed to promote fairness, economic efficiency, and technological advancement. A transparent, user-friendly, and equitable toll system will go a long way in ensuring that our road infrastructure serves the interests of both commuters and the economy at larg


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