Following instructions of the Election Commission of India (ECI) due to the enforced Model Code of Conduct (MCC), the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has put on hold the decision to increase toll taxes across the nation, an NHAI official said on April 1.
A day after it was announced that the user fee rates at NH Fee Plazas will be revised from April 1, NHAI has gone back on its decision until the end of the Lok Sabha polls. The NHAI official said that owing to the MCC enforced due to the General Election in 2024, the ECI instructed that the increased toll tax must not be imposed.
The toll hike occurs every year, as per the National Highways Fee (determination of rates and collection) Rules, 2008. This fiscal year, the toll charges on nationwide highways were supposed to increase by 2.5 per cent, including the Pune-Satara and Pune-Nashik Highways of Pune.
Toll plazas located at Shivapur and Anewadi play crucial roles as gateways to connect the two busiest cities, Pune and Satara. Light vehicles at this checkpoint were supposed to be levied with a toll tax of Rs 120, as compared to Rs 115 from the previous year. The revised rate for buses and trucks was notified at Rs 390.
Heavy vehicles crossing the Khed-Shivapur toll plaza were supposed to pay Rs 630 compared to the previous charge of Rs 615.
Similarly, on the Pune-Nashik Highway, the toll charges increased from Rs 105 to Rs 110 for light vehicles, motorbikes, and jeeps, and to Rs 370 for buses and trucks.
The traffic volume is determined by the number of cars crossing these plazas. Around 65,000 and 60,000 cars often pass the Khed-Shivapur and Anewadi toll booths respectively, which increases to about 80,000 cars in both fee plazas.
The NHAI official said that any claims made by concessionaires regarding the decision to maintain the current user fee rates will be handled according to the specific provisions outlined in their respective concession agreements.
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