The Hindu Business Line : Whose toll is it anyway?

Toll bridges and toll roads have been a constant source of irritation to vehicle operators. Long before National Highway Authority of India had slapped toll charges, now known as road user charges, on the new National Highways constructed under National Highway Development Programme, there were toll bridges. As construction of bridges would cost much more than construction of roads, it was decided to collect toll on bridges to recover the cost of construction. Initially, the idea was to enforce the levy for a given period of time till the cost was recovered. But subsequently the Government declared that the charges would be in perpetuity to recover the cost of maintenance even though the cost of maintenance is less than the cost of construction. Should the same yardstick apply to users of various types of goods vehicles while levying road-user charges, wonder vehicle owners. After all, the extent of damage caused to roads by goods vehicles varies from vehicle to another depending on capacity. The damage caused by a 30-tonne vehicle will be more than what is caused by a five-tonne one. The confusion arises presumably because several issues such as identification of road users, determination of the extent of damage caused to the roads by various users and how to prevent misuse are not clear.

More Stories on : Roadways

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
The strategic East-West gas pipeline

Facelift plans for Tuticorin port

Cruise ships: Armed against pirates

Karaikal port: Viability hinges on connectivity

‘Kochi Port needs financial discipline to tackle eroding revenues’

Strike wave hits Kochi port

Port staff defer strike till May 11 meeting

Troubled train to the North-East

Whose toll is it anyway?

Highway builders oppose stricter norms proposed by Ministry