The toll collection across national highways (NH) and state roads through FASTag was an all-time high in December, at Rs 3,679 crore, which was Rs 119 crore per day.

Nearly 98 per cent of the total toll collected through FASTag accounts for only NH stretches.

According to data captured by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the toll collection increased by Rs 502 crore in December last year compared to November 2020.

The year-on-year comparison also shows that the toll collection increased by Rs 1,375 crore in last month against Rs 2,304 crore in December 2020.

One of the reasons behind the quantum jump in last month’s toll was resumption of user fee collection at some toll plazas in Punjab and Haryana after the farmers suspended their protests following the government's roll back of the three farm laws.

Secondly, it’s also an indication of more economic activities and thirdly, the Road Transport Ministry has expedited the toll notifications for commencing the toll collection on completed stretches.

According to the Road Ministry, “however, the huge increase in toll collection is also a sign of how all leakages of toll collection have been plugged by implementing the toll collection though FASTag, which is a completely online process."

The ministry maintains that it expects states to put this system on all their tolled road stretches. Besides maximising toll collection, there is no scope for tax evasion by the toll collection agencies.

As more completed NH stretches are brought under the tolling regime, the NHAI’s revenue from user fee will also increase which is critical for undertaking more projects and to meet the debt service requirement.