NHAI Toll Real-Time Fee Tracker: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced comprehensive measures to ensure the integrity and transparency of toll collection on national highways. As part of its commitment to addressing fraudulent practices and ensuring compliance with the National Highways Fee Rules, several independent audits and monitoring systems have been put in place.
Enhanced Audits and Real-Time Monitoring
To maintain the accuracy and fairness of toll collection, NHAI conducts various types of audits, including Internal Audit, Thematic Audit, and Forensic Audit. These audits are designed to review fee collection records and ensure adherence to the provisions outlined in the NH Fee Rule and Concession Agreements.
In a bid to enhance transparency and mitigate fraudulent activities, NHAI and the Indian Highway Management Company Limited (IHMCL) have developed the Toll Management and Control Centre (TMCC) portal. This portal enables real-time monitoring of transaction details at fee plazas, allowing for continuous oversight of lane operations and quick identification of any discrepancies.
Nodal Officers and Regulatory Measures
Nodal officers have been appointed to oversee lane-level operations at fee plazas, ensuring that toll collection processes are in line with regulatory standards. Additionally, Rule 13 of the National Highways (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules 2008 stipulates that any excess fees collected must be recovered from the concerned authority or concessionaire, with a penalty of 25% of the excess amount.
For Public Funded fee plazas, Clause 18 of the Contract Agreement allows the imposition of a penalty equal to 50 times the excess fee charged if discrepancies are found.
Pilot GNSS-Based Toll Collection
NHAI is also exploring advanced technologies to improve toll collection efficiency. A pilot study for the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-based user fee collection system has been conducted on the Bengaluru-Mysore section of NH-275 in Karnataka and the Panipat-Hisar section of NH-709 in Haryana. The GNSS-based Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system will be implemented at selected sections across the country as an additional facility alongside the existing FASTag system.
Maintenance and Upkeep
The upkeep and maintenance of National Highways, including bridges and structures, are managed through various contracts. In Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contracts, maintenance is handled during and after the construction period. In Design Build Finance Operate and Transfer (DBFOT)/Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) Contracts, concessionaires manage maintenance until the end of the concession period. Toll Operate and Transfer (TOT) agreements and Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) contracts also ensure road maintenance during the concession period. Other stretches are maintained under Performance-based Maintenance Contracts (PBMC) and Short-term Maintenance Contracts (STMC).