India’s annual toll collection may double to Rs 1.4 lakh crore in two years: Nitin Gadkari

New Delhi: India's annual toll collection could more than double to ₹1,40,000 crore in the next two years from ₹55,000 crore now as the government aims to build world-class road infrastructure, said road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari.

Addressing the National Conference on Future of Smart Roads - Safety, Sustainability and Resilience by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Tuesday, the minister laid out a roadmap for development of safe, sustainable, comfortable and economically viable road infrastructure in the country.

"Infrastructure is the backbone of our economy. If world-class infrastructure is developed across transport, power, communication and water, it will give an immense boost to our industry and trade, will attract capital investment, generate employment, raise per capita income and significantly reduce poverty," Gadkari said.


The minister said he plans to promote the use of construction equipment running on alternate fuels to reduce pollution and import of fossil fuel while also giving a boost to the agriculture economy in the country.

"We are planning to give a five-seven year interest-free loan to road contractors buying construction equipment on alternate fuels to encourage large-scale use of such equipment," he said.