Most VIPs may have to pay toll across country

NEW DELHI: The highways ministry is planning to prune the list of VIPs who enjoy the privilege of free ride at toll plazas across the country.

Sources said that the ministry is likely to propose only half a dozen categories of exempted vehicles against the present list of 17 types of dignitaries who enjoy this status. A five-member committee, constituted by the ministry under director general of roads, has suggested that vehicles transporting and accompanying only President, Prime Minister, Vice-President and Governors should be exempted from paying toll across the country. Vehicles carrying CMs and those accompanying him can be exempted from paying toll charges only within their respective states.

The present list of exempted vehicles include those carrying chief justices of Supreme Court and High Courts, Cabinet ministers at the Centre and in states, Speakers of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and state legislatures.

Senior government officials said that the ministry would soon seek Cabinet nod for this proposal. Since the amendment in norms would be retrospective in nature, the new rule will be applicable to all toll road projects that are in operation. "Exemption of vehicles from paying toll also forms part of the contract that NHAI or any other agency signed with the private developer," said a road ministry official.

However, there will be no change in the second list of exempted vehicles. This list includes vehicles that transport defence personnel on duty, executive magistrate, fire brigades and ambulances besides those transporting personnel of NHAI and other bodies who are on inspection, survey, operation and maintenance of roads.

Sources said there have been several demands from heads of different government bodies, including Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), that their vehicles should be exempted from paying toll. Moreover, in recent years decorated defence officers and different organizations have been pressing this demand. The highways ministry has been turning down their pleas claiming such increase in the list will harm public-private partnership mode of road development.

Officials added that the decision, once implemented, will benefit private developers, who have been complaining against the increasing list of exempted vehicles. Road developers also claim that they are losing revenue because of the burgeoning list.

There have also been complaints of how local politicians and administrators often force developers to allow vehicles to cross plazas without paying toll.

Though the proposed amendment in NH toll rules will bring some relief to the road developers, many of them feel that under pressure to run the project private players often succumb and allow vehicles of local officials, their relatives and family members. "Having rules is different than what happens on the ground. Developers allow even local influential people to use road without paying toll to avoid any objection and obstacles in toll collection," said a corridor manager of a major highway project in Haryana.

Present list of toll exemptions:

Vehicles transporting & accompanying -

1) President

2) Vice-President

3) Prime Minister

4) Chief Justice of India & High Courts

5) Governors & Lt Governors

6) Union ministers

7) Chief Ministers

8) Judges of SC and HCs

9) Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha speakers

10) Vidhan Sabha and Vidhan Parishad speakers

11) Cabinet ministers of states

12) Foreign dignitaries on state visit

Vehicles used for official purpose -

* Defence personnel

* Executive magistrate

* Fire brigades and ambulances

* Vehicles of NHAI and other bodies used for inspection, survey, operation & maintenance of roads