Government Reduces Toll Rates on National Highways with Structures

New Toll Rate Adjustments

In a recent initiative, the Government has introduced lower toll rates for specific segments of National Highways that feature structures like tunnels, bridges, and elevated roads. This decision aims to enhance convenience for motorists by decreasing travel expenses.

Previously, toll fees on national highways were governed by the NH Fee Rule 2008. To implement this new benefit, the Ministry of Road and Transport and Highways has revised the 2008 regulations and announced a new formula for determining toll charges on these highways.

Details of the New Notification

A notification issued on July 2 specifies that the toll fee for using a section of the national highway with structures will be calculated by taking the lesser of either ten times the length of the structures plus the length of the highway section (excluding the structures) or five times the total length of the highway section. The structures considered include independent bridges, tunnels, flyovers, and elevated highways.

To clarify this new rule for motorists, an example is provided: if a highway section is 40 km long and consists solely of structures, the minimum length would be calculated as 10 times 40 km (which equals 400 km) or 5 times the total length of the section (which equals 200 km). The user fee will be based on the shorter length.

Current Toll Structure

Under the existing regulations, users are charged ten times the standard toll for each kilometer of structure on National Highways. This toll structure was originally designed to compensate for the elevated construction costs associated with such infrastructure.