New toll formula to slash user fee for Chennai's elevated highway projects

Toll fee capped at 5 times total NH length, new rules won't affect rates at Parali Pudur plaza

- B ANBUSELVAN @Chennai

WITH the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) constructing multiple elevated corridors on heavily congested stretches in Chennai and other major metro cities across the country due to space constraints and land acquisition challenges, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) has made changes in the toll calculation formula for flyover and bridges on highways, reducing the user fee significantly.

If an entire national highway stretch is built as an elevated corridor, the toll fee will be reduced by 50%. For stretches where elevated corridors make up 50% or more of the total NH length, toll charges will drop significantly—by around 10% to 40%. To this effect, the MORTH has amended Rule 4 of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, and the notification was issued last month.