Government Cuts Toll Rates by 50% on Key Highways

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) introduced a new rule that will reduce toll charges by up to 50% on certain parts of National Highways. These include tunnels, bridges, flyovers, and elevated roads. The aim is to make travel cheaper and encourage people to use highways more.

New Toll Rule Explained

The government has changed the way toll is calculated on highway stretches with big structures. Until now, toll was charged at ten times the rate for every kilometer of structure, because such roads are costly to build and maintain. With the new formula, toll will now be based on whichever is lower:

Ten times the length of the structures plus the rest of the highway, OR

1. Five times the total length, including the structures.
2. This means people will pay less money while still allowing the government to recover construction costs.

Example Given by the Ministry

To help people understand the change, the ministry gave an example. If a 40-kilometer highway section is fully made up of structures like bridges and flyovers, earlier people had to pay toll for 400 kilometers (10 x 40 km). Under the new system, the toll will be based on 200 kilometers (5 x 40 km), cutting the cost in half.

Official Statement and Expected Impact

An official from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said, “This move is meant to make toll more fair and ease the burden on travellers.” The reform is expected to lower travel costs for regular road users and increase use of national highways, especially on sections that include long or high-cost structures.