Vijayawada: With the completion of the seven-phase polls, the National Highways Authority of India has revised the toll plazas’ fee ranging from 3 to 5 per cent on an average with effect from midnight -- at start of June 3 -- across the country.
AP has 77 toll plazas and the fees vary from plaza to plaza.
Though the revision of toll plaza fee is an annual exercise done from April 1 to March 31, there was a change this time in view of the polls. The NHAI withheld the upward revision of fee for two months.
Now, with the completion of the elections, NHAI announced its plan to revise the fee with effect from June 3.
NHAI maintains that the revision every year is linked to the Wholesale Price Index based on inflation.
However, motorists are upset as they have to pay extra to cross the plaza from Monday. Its adverse impact is likely on the prices of essential commodities and other products as the transporters have to pay extra sums for transporting the goods from place to place.
APSRTC has to bear this extra cost however. There is no provision for it to immediately change the bus fares.
NHAI gave wide publicity on the revised toll plazas’ fee through the media for the benefit of the commuters.
For instance, the Mahasamudram toll plaza’s fee for a single journey is as below: Before revision, it used to collect the fee of Rs 95 for car/jeep/van; and after revision, this has gone up to Rs 100.
Similarly, LCV-Rs 155 and Rs 160; Bus/Truck-Rs 325 and Rs 335; Up to three axle vehicles-Rs 355 and Rs 365; four to six axle-Rs 515 and Rs 525; and seven or more axle Rs 625 and Rs 640.
