NHAI hikes toll fee on National Highways

CHENNAI: Toll fee on national highways was today hiked by 3 per cent, but it will be applicable to only 20 out of the 42 plazas in Tamil Nadu.

The revision of user fee on National Highways effected from today was done on the basis of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, the National Highways Authority of India ( NHAI) said.

Such a revision in the month of April was "automatic" and "routine" as per the original notification, the Regional Office of NHAI said in a release here.

The revision effected this year is "very marginal" and "mere 3 per cent compared to the previous financial year", it said.

"In fact, there is no increase in the rates applicable for Car, Van, LCV (Light Commercial Vehicle) etc, in most of the toll plazas since the revised rate is rounded off to the nearest five rupees," it said.

In Tamil Nadu, the hike is applicable to 20 of the total 42 toll plazas, it added, without elaborating further.

The increase in user-fee for the succeeding year was calculated based on the increase in Wholesale Price Index (WPI) with respect to the current year as per the rules, it added.

NHAI's statement came in the wake of opposition to the "periodical revision" from a section of road-users in Tamil Nadu such as lorry owners and traders, which the NHAI termed as a "misconception".

Political parties, including DMK and PMK, have sought a rollback of the hike in user-fee.