The government is considering a new initiative that could greatly benefit middle-class families and private car owners. The Ministry of Road Transport is working on introducing an annual toll pass, allowing vehicle owners to travel across national highways without interruption.
Benefits of The Pass
- Annual Toll Pass: Vehicle owners can avail of an annual pass for ₹30,000, granting them unrestricted access to national highways.
- Lifetime Toll Pass: As an alternative, a one-time payment of ₹30,000 will allow car owners to travel toll-free for 15 years.
- Integrated with FASTag: The pass will be directly linked to FASTag, ensuring seamless transactions and automatic verification at toll plazas.
Why is the Government Considering This?
Union Minister for Road Transport, Nitin Gadkari, recently mentioned that the government is actively working on a toll pass system for private cars. Currently, the monthly toll pass costs ₹340 per month, totalling ₹4,080 per year for a single toll plaza. However, the proposed ₹30,000 pass would provide access to the entire national highway network, making it significantly more cost-effective for frequent travellers.
Toll Collection Data
According to statistics from 2023-24, the total toll revenue amounted to ₹55,000 crore, out of which the contribution of private cars was only ₹8,000 crore. Data on toll transactions and collections indicate that 53% of all toll transactions were made by private cars, yet their share in total toll revenue was only 21%.
Additionally, during the peak hours from 6 AM to 10 PM, nearly 60% of the traffic at toll plazas consists of private vehicles, whereas commercial vehicles maintain a steady flowthroughout the day and night.
Potential Revenue Impact
Sources suggest that while the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) might face initial revenue losses, the system is expected to be financially sustainable in the long run. This toll pass initiative is seen as a solution to reduce congestion, simplify toll collection, and provide financial relief to highway users.
