We know that paying tolls while travelling by road can feel a little stressful for many people. But don’t worry, it may soon become a little lighter on your wallet. Recently, the government revised the way toll charges are calculated for roads with bridges, tunnels, flyovers and elevated stretches. Read on to know more!
NHAI Introduces New Toll Calculation Rule
After introducing the new rules, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has asked its field offices to start updating toll charges. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways revised the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, on July 1.
As per Hindustan Times, under the new rule, toll charges for highways with bridges, tunnels, flyovers or elevated roads will now be calculated differently. The government will use two methods to calculate the chargeable distance and then pick the one that gives the lower toll. One method adds 10 times the length of these structures to the remaining highway, while the other counts five times the total length of the entire highway stretch. Whichever calculation is lower will be used to decide the toll amount.
Also Read: Pune-Satara In Just 1 Hour? NHAI Plans Flyovers & ₹6,000-Crore Expressway Upgrade
Where Is This Revised Rule Applicable?
The new formula will apply only to independent bridges, tunnels, flyovers and elevated highways. Hindustan Times reported that however, if any of these structures are 60 metres long or shorter, they will not be counted separately while calculating the toll.
Before this new rule was introduced, the toll charges depended on 10 times the length of the structure. The rule was designed to recover the higher cost of building and maintaining these engineering structures.
Here’s an example to know this rule better. On a 40-km highway stretch that has 30 km of structures and 10 km of regular road, the chargeable distance will now be 200 km instead of 310 km. Similarly, if a 40-km stretch has 10 km of structures and 30 km of ordinary road, the chargeable distance will be 130 km instead of 200 km.
What are your thoughts on this? Tell us in the comments below!
Also Read: NHAI Invites Bids For Second Pune-Mumbai Expressway; Travel Time May Drop To 90 Minutes
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FAQs
Is NHAI Planning to reduce toll charges?
Yes, NHAI has introduces new rules to reduce the toll charges for the travellers.
Why earlier toll charges were high?
Earlier, toll charges were higher because they were calculated based on 10 times the length of bridges, tunnels, flyovers and elevated highways to cover their higher construction and maintenance costs.
Why NHAI Introduced new toll rules?
NHAI introduced the new toll rules to make toll charges lower and the calculation process fairer for travellers.
