Question : Collection of Toll

(a) whether it is true that road commuters have to pay more toll amount per kilometer of journey on National Highways (NHs) in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka as compared to the journey on NHs in other States;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the details of the toll levied per kilometre for traveling on NHs in these two States in comparison to other major States in the country having NH length of more than 3000 Kms;
(c) whether the Government received any requests from these two States to withdraw the increased rate of toll and to stop collection of tolls at the toll gates which are more than ten years old;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government thereon; and
(e) the details of the factors and the process of determining the fee to be collected as toll?

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) No, Sir.
(b) Does not arise.
(c) No, Sir. However, requests were received from several State Governments for closure of public funded fee plazas operational on National Highways. Requests were also received to exempt all State Government vehicles on duty, to allow unlimited trips under National Highways Fee Rules 2008 to all the buses of State Transport Corporations and to exempt State Transport Undertaking from payment of user fee. In view of extant National Highways Fee policy, all such requests were not accepted by the Government of India.
(d) Does not arise.
(e) User fee rates on National Highways are fixed in accordance with National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 and amendment thereof. As per rule 4 &5 of the said rules, the rate of fee for use of a section of national highway of four or more lanes shall, for the base year 2007-08, be the product of the length of such section multiplied by the following rates, namely:-
Type of Vehicle Base rate of fee per km (in Rupees)
Car, Jeep, Van or Light Motor Vehicle 0.65
Light Commercial Vehicle, Light Goods Vehicle or Mini Bus 1.05
Bus or Truck (Two axles) 2.20
Three-axle commercial vehicles 2.40
Heavy Construction Machinery(HCM) or Earth Moving Equipment (EME) or Multi Axle Vehicle (MAV) (four to six axles) 3.45
Oversized Vehicles (seven or more axles) 4.20
The rates specified as above shall also be increased without compounding, by three percent each year with effect from the 1st day of April, 2008 and such increased rates shall be deemed to be the base rate for subsequent years. The applicable base rates shall be revised annually with effect from April 1 each year to reflect the increase in the wholesale price index.
However, for the private funded projects for which agreements were executed and bids invited before 5th December, 2008, user fee is being charged as per the provisions of the applicable National Highways Fee Rules 1997 and respective concession agreements.
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