India's highway toll collection surges 19.6% in Q1, reaching record ₹20,681.87 crore, ET Infra
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The rate of growth was more than double of 9.49 per cent in April-June 2024-25.As per the National Electronic Toll Collection data, the number of toll users increased 16.2 per cent to 1,173.30 million in the quarter to June from 1,009.87 million a year ago.If the growth momentum sustains, toll collection could surpass ₹80,000 crore for the first time in a fiscal, adding record revenue to the government kitty. The toll collection in 2024-25 stood at ₹72,931 crore.A senior government official told ET that fast-track development of toll roads and increased economic activity are adding to toll collection."The government's focus on building and maintaining toll roads at world-class level to substantially reduce travel time and enhance user experience has significantly added to toll user base, resulting in surge in toll collection," said the official, who did not wish to be identified.The NHAI had increased toll charges by 4-5 per cent with effect from April 1, an annual exercise to revise the rates linked to the changes in the wholesale price index-based inflation."The 19.6 per cent growth is attributable to a smaller base of last year due to the general election and various state elections which led to subdued growth in the first three quarters of the calendar year," said Jagannarayan Padmanabhan, senior director and global head, consulting, CRISIL Intelligence."Going forward we should see a good growth trajectory of early teens due to new rollable roads getting added and overall uptick in the GDP (gross domestic product)."India's economy is projected to grow 6.3 per cent to 6.8 per cent in this fiscal.While the annual base rates are uniform across national highways in the country under the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates & Collection) Rules, 2008, various factors such as lane configuration, length of section, length of bypasses and structures or tunnels and type of vehicle are considered in determining the rate of user fee at a fee plaza for use of a particular section of national highway, resulting in variance in toll rates.
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