Toll Collection on National Highways Swings into High Gear, Nearly Doubled since 2018-19: Govt Data

Toll collection on national highways across India nearly doubled in the last financial year compared to 2018-19, according to official data analyzed by News18. As per details from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, in 2022-23 collection at national highway toll yards was Rs.48,028.22 crore, up from Rs.25,419.82 crore in 2018-19.

In terms of average daily collection, this amount jumped from Rs 69.64 crore in 2018-19 to Rs 131.58 crore in 2022-23.

According to the ministry, performance in public squares on national highways has generally improved following the implementation of the FASTag. The turnaround time has also improved. The average waiting time at the toll plaza was found to have decreased from 734 seconds to 47 seconds as per the sample study conducted by the National Highways Authority of India through a consultant.

The improvement in fee collection is largely attributed to ongoing revenue leak screening, work towards Digital India, and the use of FASTag.

Speaking to News18, a ministry official said that over the past few years, the Ministry of Human Resources and National Heritage has taken a number of steps to increase electronic fee collection.

“The impact of these steps is clearly visible on the fees collected, which have been constantly increasing in the past few years,” said the official, who requested anonymity.

Key steps taken by the ministry included declaring all toll plaza lanes on national highways as FASTag lanes effective from midnight of February 15 and 16, 2021.

This has been done to achieve 100 percent electronic fee collection. The rule also states that any vehicle not equipped with a FASTag or without a valid and functional FASTag that enters the designated lane will have to pay double the amount applicable to that category in tolls.

When compared to the year 2020-21, which also saw a nationwide lockdown for several weeks due to the spread of coronavirus infection, the collection of fees in the following year saw a big jump – from Rs 27,923.80 crore to Rs 33,907.72 crore.

The official explained that the introduction of FASTag has changed travel with less waiting time and fewer queues at toll yards. “It also reduces fuel consumption and provides smooth passage through toll yards.”

According to the ministry, the deployment of electronic toll collection (ETC) through FASTag at various toll plazas along national highways has brought transparency and enabled correct assessment of road assets, which has encouraged more investors to invest in the country’s highway infrastructure, in particular, in asset recycling.