Annual revision of highway toll likely to be deferred

NEW DELHI: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is likely to defer the annual revision of user fee (toll), which becomes effective from April 1 (Monday) across most of tolled highway stretches in the country. Though there has been no official communication from the highways authority, several toll operators told TOI that they have been “verbally” directed by NHAI project directors (PDs) that hike in toll won’t be implemented for the time being.

Even one of the major banks has informed highway operators that the IHMCL, an entity of NHAI responsible for tolling on highways, has instructed it not to update the new toll tariffs and a formal circular on this was expected by Sunday evening. Sources said while the deferment of hiked toll will bring relief to commuters using the tolled highways for two months till polling ends, it would be the first time in NHAI’s history when regular toll revision would be put on hold during election.

Taking note of the informal instructions to highway operators, the umbrella body of highway developers organisation, National Highway Builders Federation (NHBF) wrote to NHAI on Sunday seeking a formal notification or instruction.

It said that recent verbal instructions were passed by the respective PDs of NHAI on March 30 (Saturday) that user fee rate revision effective from April 1 won’t not be implemented without specifying any reasons. “Further it is also verbally communicated to the concessionaires that NHAI would compensate the losses incurred on account of such instructions in due course of time. However, there are no written commitments received from the competent authority of NHAI for compensating the concessionaires for losses that would be incurred due to such actions,” it wrote.

NHBF also mentioned in its letter that PDs communicated to the concessionaires on Friday not to publish the revised toll or user fee rates effective in local newspapers which is in contradiction to the provisions of the National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules and the Concession Agreements.

“Such verbal instructions from NHAI at the last moment has led to confusion amongst the concessionaires... In the absence of specific written communication (specifying the reasons for such actions) from the NHAI, the concessionaires are left with no option but to abide by the provisions of the Concession Agreements and the Fee Rules to adopt the implementation of toll/ fee rate revisions from April 01, 2024 validated by NHAI,” it said.

NHAI officials did not respond to TOI queries.

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