From 1st September, motorists to shell out more amount at the toll plazas
Posted on: 25/Aug/2020 10:54:02 AM
The toll plazas set up by NHAI or National Highway Authority of India in Tamil Nadu are making loud noises now. From 1st September, motorists would have to pay more money at these toll plazas. The reason for that is NHAI would be making an annual hike in the user fee. Depending on the category of vehicle for a single passenger, the fee would increase by Rs 5 to Rs 15 that is an increase by 3.5percent.
The lorry owners have asked Centre to suspend the collection of user fees due to the impact of lockdown on the transportation sector. It is now said that the hike in the toll charges have come at this point of time when lorry owners want suspension of the user fee. It was brought out by a senior NHAI officer that it was a routine annual hike made every year according to the rules.
It is important to note that a normal hike is an automated process carried out based on wholesale price index in accordance with the provision of National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates a Collection) Rules 2008. From 1st April and 1st September every year, user fees at TN toll plazas would be revised in 2 batches. Fact is toll charges were revised in 26 plazas from 1st April and used fee would increase in 21 plazas from 1st April.
Mr. S. Yuvaraj, president of TN State Lorry Owners Association was unhappy about the decision and he spoke about how this was not the right time to increase the user fees.
