The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has decided to postpone its decision to hike toll tax rates at various toll plazas in Punjab and Haryana. This decision comes shortly after the NHAI had announced plans to revise user fees, which was initially scheduled to come into effect from Monday.
The Ladhowal toll plaza, for instance, had planned to increase toll rates from ₹5 to ₹35 for different vehicle categories. However, this decision has been put on hold following directives from the highways authority. While the reasons behind this deferral remain undisclosed, toll plaza officials have confirmed that they are currently charging commuters based on the existing rates. NHAI officials have attributed the delay to the enforcement of the model code of conduct (MCC) due to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
According to senior NHAI officials, the notification regarding the toll rate hike was issued before the MCC was announced, necessitating proper permission from the Election Commission of India (ECI) to implement the revised rates during the election period. Consequently, the decision to revise toll rates will be revisited at a later date. Under normal circumstances, the NHAI undertakes an annual exercise to adjust toll fees based on inflation, as per a 2008 gazette notification linked to the wholesale price index (WPI). However, the uncertainty persists regarding the implementation of the new rates post the Lok Sabha elections.
While NHAI officials express uncertainty regarding the timeline for implementing the revised rates, documents accessed by PTI reveal that the ECI has instructed NHAI to defer the toll fee hike until after the elections. The ECI has directed NHAI to proceed with calculating new user fees but stipulated that the revised rates should only come into effect post the Lok Sabha elections. This decision reflects the NHAI’s adherence to regulatory protocols and its commitment to ensuring a fair and transparent toll collection process amidst the electoral environment.
