User fee collections at toll plazas on National Highways have experienced impressive growth, showing a 103.18% increase over the past five years. According to data shared by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Jairam Gadkari, toll collections have risen significantly: Rs 27,503.86 crore in 2019-20, Rs 27,926.67 crore in 2020-21, Rs 33,928.66 crore in 2021-22, Rs 48,032.40 crore in 2022-23, and Rs 55,882.12 crore in 2023-24.
Increase in Toll Plazas and Revenue
During the ongoing winter session of the Rajya Sabha, Ludhiana MP Sanjeev Arora raised questions about the number of toll plazas on National Highways. In response, the Minister stated that, as of October 2024, there are 1,015 operational toll plazas.
The rise in toll collections is attributed to factors like traffic growth, the revision of toll rates, and the addition of new tollable roads. The Minister also pointed out that since February 2021, all lanes at toll plazas have been designated as “FASTag lanes,” improving the efficiency of fee collection.
FASTag System and Its Impact
The implementation of the FASTag system has also contributed to this growth, with electronic toll collection (ETC) reaching 97% in 2022 and 98% in 2023. A study by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) shows that the average waiting time at toll plazas has dropped drastically from 734 seconds to 47 seconds in the fiscal year 2022, thanks to the FASTag system.
The minister added that congestion at toll plazas is now monitored using a GIS-based toll congestion monitoring solution, ensuring smoother operations and reducing delays for commuters.
