CHENNAI: Effective June 3, toll fees at 36 plazas across Tamil Nadu will see an increase, affecting major highways leading out of Chennai.
This toll hike, which was initially postponed due to parliamentary elections, will impact routes to key cities such as Trichy, Madurai, Coimbatore, and Bengaluru. The increase in user fees ranges from ₹5 to ₹20 for various vehicles, including private cars and buses. Specific toll plazas undergoing revision include prominent locations such as Paranur (Chengalpet), Vanagaram, and Surapattu (Chennai Bypass Road), as well as Athur, Krishnagiri, and Vaniyambadi.
The decision to raise toll fees at Paranur has attracted criticism from regular commuters on the Chennai-Trichy national highway. A representative from the Tamil Nadu Truck Owners’ Association remarked, “If the Union road transport ministry kept its promise, this toll plaza would have been shut by now. They started collecting fees here in 2005 and should have realised the capital cost a long time ago.” Despite this criticism, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had previously informed Parliament that none of the toll plazas in Tamil Nadu are eligible for a 60% waiver, as the capital cost has not been realised on any of the highway stretches they maintain. Consequently, the NHAI will continue to revise toll charges based on the wholesale price index.
However, the NHAI will not increase the fees at the Nemili (Sriperumbudur) and Chennasamudram (Walajapet) toll plazas due to ongoing six-lane road expansion works. This long-pending project has caused frequent accidents, highlighting the need for its completion before any fee adjustments.
Ideally, the toll fee revision would have taken place on April 1, as is customary each year. However, this adjustment was deferred due to the parliamentary elections, reflecting the NHAI’s sensitivity to the potential public and political backlash during the electoral period. The increased toll fees are part of an annual process to adjust rates in line with changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based inflation. With approximately 855 user fee plazas present on the national highway network, such adjustments are critical for maintaining and upgrading the country’s road infrastructure. Of these plazas, around 675 are publicly funded, while 180 are operated by concessionaires under public-private partnership models.
As the new toll rates come into effect, the NHAI will monitor the impact on traffic and revenue generation closely. While the increase is met with some resistance, especially from frequent users and transport associations, it is deemed necessary to support the ongoing development and maintenance of India’s extensive highway network. The toll fee hike at 36 plazas across Tamil Nadu underscores the importance of aligning infrastructure funding with economic conditions. By ensuring that toll rates reflect current inflation levels, the NHAI aims to sustain the quality and safety of the national highways, ultimately benefitting the broader economy and connectivity.
