CHENNAI: Road journeys will quickly cost further as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is set to increase user charges at just about part of the toll plazas situated in Tamil Nadu.
Of the 43 plazas in the state, motorists might be paying ?five to ?15 above the prevailing rate at 20 toll plazas in TN from April 1. Among them, six are situated on freeway stretches connecting Chennai to Bengaluru, Salem and Madurai. This comprises toll plazas at Paranur close to Chengelpet, Sriperumbudur and Surapet along Chennai Bypass. Official data presentations that these types of tolls had been in operation since 2005 and feature accrued more than ?1,560 crore as of 2016.
Other toll plazas, the place revised charges might be in effect, are situated in Madurai, Trichy, Vellore (two), Coimbatore, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli (3), and Sivaganga (two).
S Arun, a trader from Madurai who visits Chennai once per week, stated, “I already pay a toll of more than ?800 for a oneway travel to Chennai. (This revision) will force us to depend on buses which are invariably overdue during weekends.”
Private omni bus operators characteristic the delay to the collection of toll plazas, traffic congestion in Chennai’s suburbs (from Perungalathur to Chengalpet) and the failure in expanding freeway stretches as according to demand. Data suggests that multiple lakh vehicles cross Chengalpet on a daily basis however as the street’s capacity allows handiest 35,000 according to day. Six-way conversion plans stay on paper.
Besides delay, bus charges can even building up with toll rate revision. “Diesel charges have shot up however, fares aren't greater. This will result in operational losses,” stated a Chennai-based private omni bus operator.
Experts stated this may occasionally have a cascading effect on costs of crucial commodities introduced along these stretches and stated NHAI will have to desist from revising the fee because it hasn’t provided ok amenities. In response, NHAI officials stated contractors incharge of constructing and maintaining these plazas are allowed to revise the user rate for vehicles annually in line with the Wholesale Price Index.
Of the 43 plazas in the state, motorists might be paying ?five to ?15 above the prevailing rate at 20 toll plazas in TN from April 1. Among them, six are situated on freeway stretches connecting Chennai to Bengaluru, Salem and Madurai. This comprises toll plazas at Paranur close to Chengelpet, Sriperumbudur and Surapet along Chennai Bypass. Official data presentations that these types of tolls had been in operation since 2005 and feature accrued more than ?1,560 crore as of 2016.
Other toll plazas, the place revised charges might be in effect, are situated in Madurai, Trichy, Vellore (two), Coimbatore, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli (3), and Sivaganga (two).
S Arun, a trader from Madurai who visits Chennai once per week, stated, “I already pay a toll of more than ?800 for a oneway travel to Chennai. (This revision) will force us to depend on buses which are invariably overdue during weekends.”
Private omni bus operators characteristic the delay to the collection of toll plazas, traffic congestion in Chennai’s suburbs (from Perungalathur to Chengalpet) and the failure in expanding freeway stretches as according to demand. Data suggests that multiple lakh vehicles cross Chengalpet on a daily basis however as the street’s capacity allows handiest 35,000 according to day. Six-way conversion plans stay on paper.
Besides delay, bus charges can even building up with toll rate revision. “Diesel charges have shot up however, fares aren't greater. This will result in operational losses,” stated a Chennai-based private omni bus operator.
Experts stated this may occasionally have a cascading effect on costs of crucial commodities introduced along these stretches and stated NHAI will have to desist from revising the fee because it hasn’t provided ok amenities. In response, NHAI officials stated contractors incharge of constructing and maintaining these plazas are allowed to revise the user rate for vehicles annually in line with the Wholesale Price Index.
TN: NHAI hikes user fee at 20 of 43 toll plazas
![TN: NHAI hikes user fee at 20 of 43 toll plazas]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
March 28, 2019
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