BANGALORE: Private vehicle owners may soon enjoy the privileges of zooming pasted toll plazas on all national highways in the country with an annual toll charge of around Rs 2,500-Rs 3,000. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is expected to make a cabinet proposal in hopes of entailing the government and reducing the payment of considerable toll charges to private developers. Currently, only monthly passes have been issued to permit commuters pass through one toll plaza.
The “shadow tolling” scheme will offer discounts only for those who install smart tags called “Fasttag” in their vehicles. The government will consequently pay a separate sum to the developer which is presumed to be around Rs 1,500 crore from the overall toll revenue, reports TOI.
With NDA government in power, a number of proposals have been raised including permitting free passage for public transport as well as free travel pass for private vehicles across the district. Prevailing private players that function on highways have taken projects on PPP mode for a fixed period of time. It is based on the projected toll that is collected from all kinds of vehicles. Sources revel that while bringing in the new provision, the NHAI reimburse the concession by increasing the contract period or by paying a separate toll fee.
Currently, the share of annual toll salaried by private vehicles is around Rs 1,900 crore. Officials affirm that a number of proposals have been taken into consideration while under the latest proposal, private vehicles that have been utilizing smart tags are only entitled for such discount. As a source said, "This has to be mandatory so that we can calculate how many private vehicles passed a toll plaza using the passes. Since all these tractions will be recorded electronically, the private players cannot fudge figures."
According to TOI, the ongoing account of shadow tolling is presumed to come from the NHAI's toll collection. However, it is difficult for the government to make a call as the toll charges could be used to expand existing or fresh construction of highway stretches.
READ MORE: 10 Kinds Of People You Come Across In College
Bombay High Court Allows Nestle To Export Maggi Noodles
Magazine : 
.jpg "Unlocking Potential Redefining Potential & Redefining Excellence")
