Question : Waiving of Toll Tax

(a) the number of toll plazas where toll tax has been waived of since 2014 till date;

(b) if so, the reasons therefor;

(c) the details of the revenue loss suffered by the Government as a result of toll tax waiver;

(d) whether the Government is aware that toll was being charged at some toll plazas even after recovering the construction cost of roads and fulfilling the terms and conditions of the tender;

(e) the number of such toll plazas identified across the country; and

(f) the details of the action taken by the Government on such companies?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

(a) to (c) Toll Tax is a State Subject. However, user fee collection has been discontinued at 38 number of fee plazas on National Highways across the country since 2014. These are discontinued due to unviability of user fee collection, stretch taken up for further development work, project not fulfilling eligibility criterion for fee collection and also in larger public interest.

(d) &(e) The collection of user fee for the use of a section of National Highway (NH) is as per the applicable NH Fee Rules and provisions of the Concession/ Contract Agreement. However, in case of Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects, after completion of the concession period, the user fee is to be collected by Central Government at reduced rates of 40%. In case of a public funded project, the user fee rates are to be reduced to 40% after recovery of capital cost of the project. The concession period on Built Operate Transfer (BOT) basis of four lane Raipur-Durg section on NH No. 53 in the State of Chhattisgarh ended on 02.03.2015. At present, the user fee is levied at one fee plaza on this section at reduced rates of 40% as per the provisions of NH Fee Rules.

(f) Does not arise.
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