Government collected 1.44 lakh crore from toll tax, Nitin Gadkari gave information

Toll Tax Collection: The government has collected Rs 1.44 lakh crore toll on highway plazas under public-private partnership since 2000. New Delhi 28 November (PTI) The government has collected Rs 1.44 lakh crore as toll tax on fee plazas operated under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model on national highways since December 2000. Nitin Gadkari told about this.

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 02:03 PM (IST)
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Government collected 1.44 lakh crore from toll tax, Nitin Gadkari gave information
Government collected 1.44 lakh crore from toll tax, Nitin Gadkari gave information

According to the government, Rs 1.44 lakh crore has been collected as a tax on toll plazas operated under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model on national highways. Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari informed through a written reply in the Lok Sabha that this amount of income has been received from December 2000 till now. He also said that all the user fee collection systems at all the National Highway toll plazas have been set up as per the provision under the National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, and the respective concession agreement.

Responding to another question, Nitin Gadkari said the government came up with an additional feature with FASTag, which began implementing free tolling using the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system. He further said during this time, the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) -based tolling system is not operational anywhere on national Highways.

However, the Union Minister said that the NH Fee Rules, 2008 (dated September 9, 2024) have been amended to enable GNSS-based tolling system through on-board unit (OBU) and users of vehicles not fitted with a valid, functional Global Navigation Satellite System on-board unit will have to pay a fee equal to twice the user fee applicable for that category of vehicle at that toll plaza. If GNSS-based tolling becomes operational.

Under the GNSS-based user fee collection system, toll fees would be collected for the actual distance traveled by the vehicle on the national highway or expressway, according to the NH Fee Rules, 2008, and amendments. At present, user fee is collected at toll plazas based on the project effect length of the respective fee plaza.

The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is a satellite-based technology, which would be implemented in India for toll tax collection. The system records the movement of a vehicle that covers a distance on a toll road. In addition, the system deducts the amount of toll tax that the vehicle travels on a particular highway.

Muskan Kumawat Journalist & Writer