New toll policy with reasonable concessions soon, says Gadkari

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said the government would soon announce a new policy for toll charges on national highways, offering a reasonable concession to consumers.

Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha during question hour, the minister said the government was spending a lot on building road infrastructure and as a result collection of toll had become necessary to fund the expenditure. “It is the policy of the department that when you want a good road, you have to pay for it,” Gadkari said.

He said the government was planning to spend Rs 3 lakh crore in Assam. “We are making a lot of big roads — four lanes as well as six lanes and a lot of bridges from the Brahmaputra. We are raising funds from the market. So without a toll, we cannot do it. But still, we are very considerate. We are only charging toll on four lanes, not on the two-lane paved roads.”

According to rules, toll plaza on the same section of the national highway and in the same direction cannot be established within 60 km.

“After completing this session, we are going to declare a new policy for the toll, where the problem will be resolved and we will give reasonable concession to the consumer and there will be no debate about it,” he said, adding that the problems would be resolved.

Total toll collection in India touched Rs 64,809.86 crore in 2023-24, a 35 per cent rise over the previous year. The collection was Rs 27,503 crore in 2019-20.