Indian toll rates among lowest

In comparison, car toll rates in China are 3-6 cents per kilometre, and 70 cents per kilometre in Hong Kong.

The difference between tolls paid by private and commercial vehicles is, however, comparatively steeper in India. At present, Indian truckers pay around 3.5 times the toll paid by car owners.

Truckers in France pay 2.4-3.2 times more, while those in Spain pay about 1.5 times more. In Portugal, truckers pay 1.6-2.5 times the toll paid by cars, and in China they pay 2 -3.5 times more. Hong Kong truckers pay 3-3.5 times more than what private vehicle owners pay as toll.

Even though toll rates are comparatively lower in India at present, the revenue estimated from tolling on the entire length of the 5,846 km first phase of the ongoing National Highways Development Project (NHDP) is pegged at over Rs 51,000 crore during a 30-year period.

According to the CRIS INFAC study on the revenue potential of the Golden Quadrilateral portion of the NHDP, the total inflow of funds from various sources, including toll revenue and cess, has been estimated at Rs 1,04,248 crore over a 30-year period.

The total outflow in terms of payment of cash contracts, annuity payments, maintenance expenses and debt servicing has been pegged at Rs 86,910 crore.

The surplus of 17,338 crore is, however, conditional to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) being extremely efficient in achieving the tolling potential of over Rs 51,000 crore in 30 years.

India has about 1,420 km of four-lane national highways, where tolls are being charged from commuters.

Gujarat has the highest number of tolled national highways, with three sections totalling 325.16 km. Haryana follows with 256.21 km of tolled national highways.