The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has hit the brakes on its decision to raise the toll tax across India, starting April 1, following the instructions from the Election Commission of India (ECI), The Indian Express reported.
NHAI reverses decision
The revision in the decision came a day after it was announced that the user fee rates at NH Fee Plazas will increase from April 1. The NHAI has gone back on the decision until the end of Lok Sabha polls. An NHAI official said that due to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) which has been enforced during the General Election the ECI instructed the NHAI to not impose the increase in toll tax.
The annual toll increase is mandated by the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. This fiscal year, toll charges on national highways were slated to rise by 2.5%, affecting routes such as the Pune-Satara and Pune-Nashik Highways in Pune.
Changes in toll tax
The toll plazas at Shivapur and Anewadi serve as vital links between Pune and Satara, two of the busiest cities. Light vehicles passing through this checkpoint were slated to be charged a toll of Rs 120, up from Rs 115 the previous year. Meanwhile, buses and trucks were notified of a revised toll rate of Rs 390.
At the Khed-Shivapur toll plaza, heavy vehicles were expected to pay Rs 630, up from the previous charge of Rs 615.
Likewise, on the Pune-Nashik Highway, toll fees increased from Rs 105 to Rs 110 for light vehicles, motorbikes, and jeeps, and to Rs 370 for buses and trucks.
The traffic flow is gauged by the number of vehicles crossing these toll booths. Typically, around 65,000 and 60,000 cars pass through the Khed-Shivapur and Anewadi toll plazas, respectively, with numbers peaking to approximately 80,000 cars at both toll booths.
The NHAI official stated that any assertions made by concessionaires concerning the decision to uphold the existing user fee rates will be addressed in accordance with the particular provisions delineated in their respective concession agreements.