The ministry of road transport and highways informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that tolls on National Highways are collected indefinitely, ruling out any audit of fee plazas regarding the investment and revenue to reduce or eliminate toll booths.
P Wilson, DMK MP in the Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu, inquired of Union minister Nitin Gadkari if there has been any audit conducted to assess the investments made and revenue generated in toll plazas throughout the nation.
He additionally inquired whether any measures have been implemented to lower the toll fee or shut down the plaza where the amount has been collected by the concessionaire and NHAI.
“The toll at fee plazas on National Highways is collected indefinitely. Therefore, there is no necessity to audit fee plazas regarding the investment made and the revenue generated, in order to reduce or close the fee plaza,” stated Gadkari.
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The ministry clarified that the user fee, previously known as toll, is charged for utilizing any part of the National Highway, in line with the NH Fee Rules.
“According to the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, the fee indicated in the Concession Agreement will be applicable until the concession period concludes, and once the concession period ends, the government or executing authority will collect the fee as specified…,” Gadkari mentioned, noting that the user fee is updated every year.
Regarding a publicly funded project, Gadkari stated that the applicable fee will be perpetually collected for specific sections of the National Highway, bridge, tunnel, or bypass, as appropriate, and will be adjusted each year based on these regulations.
The MP also inquired about the ongoing projects in Tamil Nadu. Gadkari stated that 48 projects costing Rs 38,359.25 crore with a total length of 1,046.84 km are currently underway in Tamil Nadu.
