Uniform Toll Policy in the Works for National Highways: Gadkari

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is working on implementing a uniform toll policy across national highways to ease travel for commuters, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced on Monday. He also emphasized that India's highway infrastructure is now at par with global standards, including that of the United States.
Gadkari acknowledged the growing dissatisfaction among commuters due to high toll charges and poor road conditions, which often lead to unnecessary inconvenience. Addressing these concerns, the government has decided to introduce a GPS-based toll collection system on national highways. This system aims to ensure that commuters are charged only for the distance they travel, reducing arbitrary toll costs.

Addressing Public Concerns
The minister assured that complaints about excessive toll charges are being taken seriously. Authorities are also cracking down on fraudulent toll contractors to ensure transparency in the system.
Currently, private vehicles account for 60% of total highway traffic, but only 20-26% of toll revenue comes from them. Meanwhile, an increasing number of highways have transitioned to a fully tolled model, leading to further dissatisfaction among travelers.
India’s Record-Breaking Highway Expansion
Gadkari expressed confidence that the Ministry would surpass its previous record of building 37 km of highways per day, set in 2020-21. In the last financial year alone, India has already constructed around 7,000 km of new roads.
While the Bharatmala Project was initially planned to spearhead road expansion, delays in funding have slowed its progress. The government is now exploring new projects under the National Highway Expansion Plan to maintain momentum. However, any large-scale expansion will require fresh approvals from the Union Cabinet, as projects worth ₹10 lakh crore were previously sanctioned under Bharatmala.