The Parliament was informed on Wednesday that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) collected Rs 54,811.13 crore in toll fees on national highways for the fiscal year 2023–2024.
The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, stated in a statement to the Rajya Sabha that the modification in charge rates to 2.55% of the previous collection amount of Rs 1,400 crore was the only reason for the anticipated increase in user fee collection.
Minister Gadkari stated, “Total fee collection at national highway fee plaza operational under NHAI was Rs 54,811.13 crore during the financial year 2023-24.”
User fee rates have been updated five times in the past five years, with an average increase of 2.55% from FY 2023–2024.
In the meantime, the Ministry invested Rs 6,523 crore in NH repair in the previous year.
The NHAI installs Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) on National Highways and National Expressways with high traffic density, such the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, Trans-Haryana, Eastern Peripheral Expressway, etc.
“Installing ATMS is typically a part of new NH projects on high-density and high-speed corridors of NHAI. Additionally, ATMS is implemented independently in significant routes that have already been built, the minister stated.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways reported that in 2022, there were 4,61,312 accidents on all roads (including 1,51,997 on national highways), and 1,68,491 fatalities (including 61,038 on NHs). This information pertains to the overall number of road accidents and fatalities on National Highways (including Expressways).
According to the Ministry, it has developed a multifaceted approach to address the problem of road safety that focuses on enforcement, emergency care, engineering (both of roads and vehicles), and education.
In compliance with the 2015 Green roadways Policy, NHAI has also effectively planted 402.28 lakh plants along the nation’s roadways to date.
