Pay as you go: Centre plans toll collection revamp based on vehicle’s size, distance travelled

Planning an overhaul of the toll policy, the government is of the view that differently sized vehicles put different stress on road infrastructure and so they should pay the toll accordingly. According to the planned revamp, the toll will be charged based on the actual time and distance covered by a vehicle.
Toll plaza

Pay as you go: Centre plans toll collection revamp based on vehicle’s size, distance travelled

New Delhi: Soon, you could be paying the highway toll based on the size and the distance covered by your vehicle as the Centre looks at revamping the toll policy. Just like users pay for the amount of electricity they consume, the size of their vehicle and its potential stress on road infrastructure could determine the amount of toll they pay on national highways.
Planning an overhaul of the toll policy in an effort to make the process of collection more efficient, the government is of the view that differently sized vehicles put different stress on road infrastructure and so they should pay the toll accordingly.
Under the new policy, the toll will be charged according to the actual time and distance covered by a vehicle on highways, business newspaper the Mint has reported. The tolling policy is based on the number of axles the vehicle has, whereas the new one will factor in the size and the weight of the vehicle.
As per an official cited by the publication, the notion this planned initiative to charge the toll based on how much space a vehicle occupies and the amount of weight it puts on the road infrastructure, resulting in faster wear and tear of roads.
Meanwhile, road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari had in March this year said that toll tax would not be levied at collection points located within 60 km of each other. The relaxation will come into effect after a period of three months i. e. June, the minister noted.
"Toll collection points that fall within 60 km of another toll booth will be closed in the next three months," Gadkari said in the Lok Sabha. The issue was again raised by the Opposition in August during the monsoon session.
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