Govt to cut by half toll rates for highways with more than 50% structures

NEW DELHI: In a decision that will benefit users of highways and bypasses that have structures — flyovers, underpasses and tunnels – accounting for more than 50% of their length, the toll rate for such stretches (with structures) will be halved and capped at five times the normal toll. Till now, the toll for stretches with structures was 10 times the normal toll.

The road transport ministry has given the go-ahead for the change, which will be notified in the next couple of days. The new norm will bring relief to commuters using highway stretches linking two neighbouring cities, Ring roads and bypasses built by Central govt in urban areas, which usually have more such structures, as is the case with Dwarka Expressway in Delhi.

As per current NH Fee Rules, the toll charge for every km of elevated stretch or tunnel is 10 times the user fee collected for a km of regular highway stretch. The formula is applied to recover the costs incurred to build elevated stretches and tunnels, which are more capital-intensive compared to regular highway sections.

Citing an example, an official said a one-way car trip on the 28.5-km Dwarka Expressway having 21 km of structures will cost Rs 317 as per the present norm — Rs 306 for the structures portion and Rs 11 for the remaining 7 km -- but this will go down to around Rs 153, less than half, when the new norm is applied.

While officials said that the change in rule may not have a huge impact on car users who opt for the Annual toll pass scheme for private cars that the govt will be implementing, it will benefit commercial and heavy vehicles.