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Commuters travelling on national highways and expressways will now have to pay higher toll fees, as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has implemented a 4 to 5 per cent increase in toll charges.

 

The revised rates came into effect on Tuesday as part of NHAI’s annual review process.

 

The toll hikes are linked to changes in the wholesale price index-based inflation, a standard practice followed every year from April 1. According to a senior official from the highways ministry, the revision is carried out separately for each national highway and expressway.

 

Currently, there are around 855 user fee plazas across India’s national highways, where toll fees are collected under the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.

 

Out of these, approximately 675 are publicly funded toll plazas, while the remaining 180 are operated by concessionaires.

 

The increased toll rates will affect commuters on major routes, including the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, Eastern Peripheral Expressway, and the Delhi-Jaipur Highway, among others.

 

These highways are some of the busiest in the country, and the toll hike is expected to impact thousands of daily travellers.

 

The NHAI’s toll rate revision has been a subject of public discussion, with frequent travellers expressing concerns over the rising cost of commuting.

 

However, the highway authority maintains that these revisions are necessary to accommodate inflation and to ensure proper maintenance and development of road infrastructure.