New Toll Rules: Great news for highway travelers! The central government has rolled out new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for establishing toll plazas on national highways and expressways. Under these new SOPs, toll plazas cannot be constructed within 60 kilometers of any new highway. Additionally, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has set up a High-Level Toll Committee to ensure strict adherence to this regulation.
New toll regulations
The central government’s new SOP states that no new toll plazas will be allowed within 60 kilometers of any new national highway or expressway. Furthermore, the minimum distance between two toll plazas on any new national highway or expressway will also be set at 60 kilometers.
60-km rule – According to the SOP, the minimum distance between two toll plazas on any new national highway or expressway is established at 60 km.
Shorter distance due to necessity – In exceptional cases where a toll plaza must be built before reaching 60 kilometers, the relevant agency must obtain special permission from the high-level committee.
Strict regulations near urban areas – There are also stringent restrictions on constructing toll plazas within city limits or within a 10 km radius of the Municipal Corporation.
High-Level Committee – This committee, chaired by the Commercial Operation Member of NHAI, will ensure that drivers are not subjected to repeated toll charges.
Current tolls: At present, there are over 130 locations across the country where two toll plazas exist within 60 km, but these new regulations will affect future highway projects.
All toll plazas in Delhi will be barrier-free
In other news, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has decided to implement a barrier-free, multi-lane, free-flow system at all 156 toll plazas in the city. This new technology is anticipated to alleviate traffic congestion at toll plazas and provide significant relief to millions of daily commuters.
Complaints have been received regarding toll plazas at short distances.
In many parts of the country, complaints have long been raised about the short distance between toll plazas in various locations. Locals have repeatedly protested the short distance between the Chhijarsi toll plaza in Ghaziabad and the Delhi-Meerut Expressway’s entry and exit points. Similarly, the Ambala-Chandigarh route (NH-152 and NH-44), connecting Punjab and Haryana, also has several toll plazas within a short distance.