On November 20, the Maharashtra cabinet decided to increase the toll by 10 per cent on heavy vehicles like trucks, buses on 15 state highway projects. Meanwhile, the toll exemption will be continued for light and small vehicles at all the 53 state highways.
This move is to mop up the shortfall of Rs 350-400 crore annually due to toll waiver for light vehicles. The decision has been taken in view of the rising revenue shortfall because of the COVID-19 crisis and the economic slowdown.
The state public works department (PWD) has now increased the category of vehicles from the earlier four to five, by separating three-axle vehicles and multi-axle (truck-trailer) vehicles as two different categories, where the latter will pay the highest toll tax.
Overall, there are 53 state highways comprising 27 under the jurisdiction of PWD. While, the remaining 26 falls under the purview of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). The revision in toll rates will be now be applicable to 15 of the 27 PWD highways.
As per the decision, the toll on car and jeep will continue to be Rs 45. However, for mini bus and tempo it has been jacked to Rs 95 from Rs 75; for truck and bus, it is raised to Rs 200 now from Rs 160; for three-axle vehicle Rs 315 from Rs 250; and for more than three axle vehicle Rs 475 from Rs 380.
In a bid to make Maharashtra toll-free till June 2025, the BJP-led government had exempted light vehicles from payment of toll on these highways. Due to the waiver, the government had to shell out Rs 400 crore annually to toll contractors towards compensation.
Although the toll has been increased, the cabinet observed that these rates were still lower than those charged on the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) highways, which falls under the Central government. The toll rates range between Rs 100 and 525 on NHAI highways, it pointed out.
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