National News

Highway Toll System Under Review

August 29 , 2025 421 days 786 0

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has raised concerns over the current highway tolling system.
It was stating that tolls are often collected indefinitely, regardless of road quality, traffic volume, affordability, or recovery of project costs.
The concept of perpetual tolling was introduced through a 2008 amendment to the Fee Rules.
Later it was formalised by a 2023 amendment allowing toll collection even beyond the concession period.
The PAC has recommended the creation of a tariff authority similar to the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) to ensure fair and transparent toll fixation, collection, and regulation.
The PAC recommended automatic toll refunds or waivers where highways are incomplete.
Rs 61,408 crore was collected as toll in 2024–25, compared to ₹55,882 crore in 2023–24, ₹48,032 crore in 2022–23, ₹33,929 crore in 2021–22, and ₹27,927 crore in 2020–21.