Govt Planning Uniform Toll Policy Amid Rising Public Discontent Over High Charges: Nitin Gadkari

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is working on a uniform toll policy to address mounting public dissatisfaction over high toll charges and the overall highway experience, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced on Monday (3 February), as reported by Financial Express.

Acknowledging grievances, Gadkari stated, “We are working on a uniform toll policy that will address the issues faced by commuters.”

However, he refrained from sharing specifics of the policy, leaving commuters and industry observers eager for further details.

Responding to widespread complaints, the government has begun rolling out a barrier-less, GNSS-based toll collection system to improve efficiency and reduce congestion at toll plazas.

Gadkari stressed the ministry’s commitment to addressing concerns, stating that MoRTH is actively cracking down on contractors involved in inefficiencies.

Private vehicles, which account for 60 per cent of highway traffic, contribute only 20-26 per cent of toll revenue, according to the minister.

With an expanding toll network and increasing charges, frustration among road users has grown, further fuelling demand for a streamlined toll collection system.

The increase follows the rapid expansion of the National Highways network, which now stretches 1,46,195 km, making it the second-largest road network globally.

Gadkari also highlighted India’s impressive infrastructure growth, asserting that the nation’s highways now compare with those of the United States.

The ministry aims to exceed the record of 37 km of highway construction per day, set in FY 2020-21, with 7,000 km already completed this year.

The government has ambitious plans to award 13,000 km of highway projects in 2024-25, a significant increase from 8,580.5 km in FY 2023-24. However, delays in replacing the Bharatmala Pariyojana scheme have slowed project approvals.

Launched in 2017, Bharatmala Pariyojana aimed to enhance connectivity by adding 34,800 km of roads, of which 26,400 km have been awarded and 18,700 km completed.

However, large projects over Rs 1,000 crore now require Cabinet approval, creating bottlenecks.

Gadkari revealed that projects worth Rs 50,000-60,000 crore are currently awaiting clearance, underscoring the need for streamlined approvals to maintain India’s rapid infrastructure expansion.