Implement New Highway Toll Rates After Lok Sabha Election 2024: ECI To NHAI

The new toll rates, which were supposed to be hiked from today, April 1, will be implemented after the Lok Sabha elections 2024, the Election Commission of India (ECI) in a directive to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said on Monday. According to the reports, the ECI's directive came in response to a request from the Minister of Road Transport and Highways, so that the decision to hike toll rates ahead of the Lok Sabha elections may not affect the voters.

The reports said the NHAI has decided to hike the toll by 5% for the majority of highways and expressways across the country.

The ECI directive to the NHAI reads: "The process required for the decision on the power tariff may be continued by the State Electricity Regulatory Commission. However, tariff award shall be made only on the completion of the poll in the relevant state, i.e. after the poll date/dates in the state. In respect of the clarification sought, it is stated that user fee may be seen in the context of the power tariff as mentioned in the Commission's instruction cited above."

Talking to the media, a senior NHAI official said, the Transport Ministry changes toll rates almost every year for National Highways and Expressways depending upon the price index-based inflation.

Earlier, talking to ANI, Union Minister for Roads and Transport Nitin Gadkari said that now tax will be deducted from banks directly through satellite and it will save people's time. "Now we are ending toll and there will be a satellite base toll collection system. Money will be deducted from your bank account and the amount of road you cover will be charged accordingly. Through this time and money can be saved. Earlier, it used to take 9 hours to travel from Mumbai to Pune, now it is reduced to 2 hours," Nitin Gadkari said.