The implementation of FASTag has brought about a significant revolution in toll collections on national highways, with daily collections soaring to an impressive Rs 150 crore during the initial three months of this financial year. This substantial amount marks a remarkable increase compared to the daily average of approximately Rs 130 crore recorded in the first quarter of 2022-23.
Data presented in Lok Sabha last week and analyzed by News18 indicates that the average monthly toll collection through FASTags during the first quarter of 2023 amounted to Rs 4,406 crore. This figure surpasses the average monthly collection of Rs 4,083 crore in the previous quarter (January-March 2023) and also exceeds the toll collections of the first quarter of 2022, which amounted to Rs 3,841 crore.
Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari informed the House that the highest user fee collection was from heavy commercial vehicles following the widespread implementation of FASTag. As of June 30, 2023, there are 898 toll plazas on national highways, where the user fee is levied in accordance with the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.
The data provided by the Ministry indicates a remarkable growth in toll collection on national highways across India from 2015-16 to 2022-23. During the fiscal year 2022-23, the toll plaza user fee collection on national highways reached an impressive Rs 48,028.22 crore, which is a substantial increase compared to the Rs 17,759.12 crore recorded in 2015-16.
The growth in toll collection can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the migration from manual toll collection to electronic tolling through FASTag has significantly contributed to the improved user fee collection. Secondly, the increase in user fee collection can be attributed to the growth in traffic, revisions in user fee rates, and the addition of new tollable road length.
Gadkari highlighted that compliance with toll collection has seen a substantial improvement with the declaration of all lanes of toll plazas on national highways as FASTag-enabled. At present, 97.6 percent of fee collection is done through FASTag.
Furthermore, during the last financial year, 112 new toll plazas were introduced, and the gradual conversion of cash lanes to FASTag lanes played a vital role in facilitating this growth. Since February 2021, all lanes of toll plazas were enabled with FASTag.
Gadkari also revealed that as of June 30, there were more than 200 toll plazas within a 60 km range in the country. According to the provision of sub-rule (2) of Rule 8 of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, fee plazas can be established within this range. The minister emphasized that there are no plans to halt the collection of user fees at toll plazas on national highways, and the collection of user fees will continue as per the rates specified in the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. The remarkable success of FASTag in boosting toll collections on national highways has marked a significant milestone in India’s transportation sector, streamlining toll collection processes and enhancing revenue generation.
