Government to review toll policy keeping commuters interests in mind

CHANDIGARH: The Government will review the National Toll Policy for larger benefit of the commuters, Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, Krishan Pal Gujjar said here today.

"We will make a review of the toll policy keeping in view the larger interests of commuters in mind," he said at a press conference here.

Government will go into entire gamut of things including violations by private players, problems being faced by the commuters despite collection of toll and other shortcomings that may be there, he said.

Replying to a question, Gujjar said that it was not possible for the NDA Government and National Highways Authority of India ( NHAI) to rollback the toll rates as the agreements have been signed much before the new government assumed office.

Moreover, the acquisition cost has gone up many times with new land acquisition policy being in place, and as such it was not possible to withdraw toll taxes on the highways, he added.

Gujjar also said that works amounting to Rs 60,000 crore had come to a standstill around the country as concessionaires were facing problems at some places.

"At many places, people are finding difficulties in getting return on investments and in some cases the banks have stopped the finance to them," he pointed out.

However, fast-tracking highway projects that "took a hit during UPA regime" is top priority for the new government, said Gujjar.