New Delhi, February 4, 2025: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is working on a uniform toll policy to improve the experience of national highway (NH) users, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced on Monday.
India’s Expanding Highway Network
India has the second-largest road network in the world, after the United States, with national highways spanning 1,46,195 km. Gadkari emphasized that India’s highway infrastructure now matches that of the US.
Key Highlights of the Uniform Toll Policy
- The new toll policy aims to resolve user complaints related to high toll charges and poor road conditions.
- A barrier-less Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-based toll collection will be introduced on national highways, ensuring seamless toll payments.
- The ministry is taking serious action against contractors responsible for substandard highway maintenance, responding to grievances raised on social media.
Rising Toll Revenues and Highway Expansion
- Toll collection in 2023-24 reached ₹64,809.86 crore, a 35% increase from the previous year.
- In 2019-20, toll revenue was ₹27,503 crore.
- Despite private cars constituting 60% of highway traffic, their share in toll revenue remains just 20-26%.
- So far, 7,000 km of highways have been constructed in the current financial year, with accelerated construction expected in February-March.
With the new uniform toll policy, the government aims to enhance commuter convenience, ensure fair toll pricing, and further boost India’s highway infrastructure.
