New Delhi, October 30 (IANS). The cost of toll collection in India has come down by 43 percent on an annual basis to Rs 2,674 crore in the financial year 2024-25, from Rs 4,736 crore in the previous financial year 2023-24. This information was given by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (NHAI) on Thursday.
NHAI said that the share of cost in the total toll collection has reduced to 9.27 percent in the financial year 2024-25, which was 17.27 percent in the financial year 2023-24.
The cost of toll collection is the difference between the total toll fees collected by the tolling agency and the amount sent to NHAI.
Toll worth Rs 27,417 crore was collected by toll agencies in the financial year 2023-24. Out of this, Rs 22,681 crore was sent to NHAI.
However, in the financial year 2024-25, toll agencies collected toll of Rs 28,823 crore. Out of this, Rs 26,149 crore was sent to NHAI.
The reduction in the cost of toll collection was mainly due to various initiatives taken by NHAI, including intensive monitoring of existing contracts, removing the provision of purported extension of three months, timely bidding, ensuring that maximum contracts are awarded for a period of one year and minimizing short term contracts of three months.
Additionally, measures were taken to drastically reduce short term three month contracts, limit premature termination requests to only three during a financial year and restrict the same contractor from bidding for the toll plaza for which he has submitted a premature termination request.
Also, NHAI maintained constant contact with ‘All India User Fee Collection Federation’, so that by listening to the problems of toll collection agencies, finding solutions and increasing participation in toll bids.
According to a statement from the ministry, timely release of performance security (cash portion) and bank guarantees of toll collection agencies enhanced their bidding capacity, resulting in higher bid amounts.
–IANS
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