In a significant move set to ease the financial burden on daily commuters and transporters, the Indian government has approved a major reduction in toll fees on key road stretches. The decision, which comes as a direct response to user grievances, will see toll charges slashed on highways undergoing expansion and on partially operational expressways.
Substantial Toll Cut During Highway Construction
The Ministry of Finance has given its official nod to proposals from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. A key change involves stretches where two-lane highways with paved shoulders are being widened to four lanes. Currently, commuters pay about 60% of the normal National Highway toll during this construction phase. This fee will now be dramatically reduced to just 30%.
The rationale behind this cut is straightforward: drivers do not receive the full benefit of a wide, smooth road while construction is ongoing, often facing narrowed lanes and delays. The reduction acknowledges the compromised service quality. Furthermore, the finance ministry has instructed the highways ministry to strictly monitor these projects and enforce penalties on contractors who miss deadlines, ensuring that the relief for users is not undermined by prolonged construction.
Expressway Fees Brought on Par with National Highways
In another crucial decision, the user fee on partially opened expressways, such as the much-anticipated Delhi-Mumbai and Amritsar-Jamnagar corridors, will be lowered. At present, toll on expressways is 1.25 times higher than on other National Highway stretches. This premium pricing has reportedly deterred vehicles, especially heavy commercial vehicles, from using these new roads, defeating the purpose of decongesting older routes.
The new directive will bring the charges on these expressway sections in line with standard National Highway rates. This relief, however, is designed as a temporary measure. The finance ministry has stipulated that the reduced rate will apply for one year or until the expressway becomes fully operational, whichever comes first. A decision on extending this relaxation will be based on the actual traffic uptake observed on these routes after the initial period.
Implications for Commuters and the Transport Sector
These policy changes are expected to have an immediate positive impact. For daily commuters and logistics companies, lower tolls during construction mean direct cost savings on frequently traveled routes. The reduced expressway fees are likely to incentivize greater use of these modern corridors, leading to faster travel times and reduced wear and tear on vehicles.
The government's twin approach of providing financial relief to users while imposing stricter timelines on contractors reflects a more user-centric policy framework. It balances immediate public concern over costs with the long-term goal of building high-quality road infrastructure efficiently. The move is seen as a step towards making highway travel more economical and attractive for all users.
