Starting April 1, toll charges at 40 National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) toll plazas across Tamil Nadu, including those near Chennai, will be increased. The hike will range from ₹5 to ₹25, depending on the vehicle category.
Key Toll Plazas Affected:
- Vanagaram & Surapattu (Chennai Bypass)
- Nallur (Chennai-Kolkata Highway)
- Athur & Paranur (Tambaram-Tindivanam NH)
Toll Revision Timeline:
April 1 – Fee revision for 40 toll gates
September 1 – Revision for the remaining 38 plazas
The toll rates are revised annually based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) under the National Highway Fee Rules, 2008.
Impact of Toll Hike
Freight Cost Surge: Traders warn that increased toll rates could raise transport costs, affecting commodity prices. A truck trip from Maharashtra to Chennai already incurs ₹1,000+ in toll fees.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has assured that a new toll policy will be introduced soon, offering concessions to consumers. However, he confirmed that toll collection on national highways will continue indefinitely for publicly funded projects.