Government mulls tolls on public-funded national highways

NEW DELHI: A proposal for monetisation of completed public-funded national highway projects is under consideration, Parliament was informed today.

"A proposal for monetisation of completed public funded national highway projects through Toll-Operate Transfer mode based on the expected collection of user fee receivables, through private sector efficiency and expertise is under active consideration," Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Pon Radhakrishnan told Lok Sabha in a written reply.

Proceeds from such monetisation of completed national highway projects shall be utilised for construction, operation and maintenance of national highways, he said.

Besides, he said as per budgetary approval for the current year, Internal Extra Budgetary Resources (IEBR) amounting to Rs 59,279 crore has been allotted to NHAI.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been already authorised to raise Rs 25,000 crore (taxable) and Rs 5,000 crore (54EC) for construction and maintenance of National Highways.