Govt working towards revising NH toll framework

Amid rising cases of toll being charged on national highways (NHs) even after the end of the concession period, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has initiated a study with central policy think tank NITI Aayog to revise the user-fee determination framework, it has informed the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament.

- DHRUVAKSH SAHA

In its report, the PAC, chaired by Congress Member of Parliament (MP) K C Venugopal, said that collecting toll beyond the concession period creates a regime of "perpetual tolling", asking for an overhaul of the process.

"The Committee notes that the ministry has acknowledged this and initiated a study with NITI Aayog to revise the user-fee determination framework, including base rates, inflation indexing, and concession structures. The Committee recommends that the ministry pursue the proposed study — being initiated through NITI Aayog in collaboration with reputed academic institutions — and ensure that it is time-bound and result-oriented," the PAC said in its report "Levy and regulation of fees, tariffs, user charges, etc. on public infrastructure and other public utilities".

According to the fine print of the deliberations between the Committee and the ministry, the former was told that the contours of the study have been finalised.