The government has collected Rs.21,054 crore through cess levied on petrol and diesel in the last fiscal ended March, parliament was told on Thursday.
The collection was higher by 22 percent over the Rs 17,330.87 crore collected in 2013-14, Minister of State for Road Transport P.Radhakrishnan told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.
The collection in 2012-13 was at Rs.16,401.91 crore.
The cess on petrol and high speed diesel is utilised for development and maintenance of national highways and development of rural roads, the minister said, adding it is also used in the development and maintenance of other state roads of inter-state and economic importance and for the improvement of safety at rail-road crossings, among others.
"Besides, the ministry also approves/sanctions works for development of state roads under CRF including roads of Economic Importance (EI) and Inter-State Connectivity (ISC)," he said.