[car-dent]

I am sure they will then soon find newer ways to keep many routes out of the purview of those charges and we will need to pay separately on those, just like channels on Amazon prime videos..
And who knows, they may even make it compulsory for everyone to buy that yearly basic pass.

[maheshm619]

It's hard to believe that the government will introduce any such scheme that benefits the common people while absorbing some losses. It is most likely that such a scheme would be tied to a specific stretch of highway or expressway (like the Yamuna Expressway or Mumbai-Pune Expressway). An annual pass would allow someone to take unlimited trips (with a ceiling, of course) on that route after paying a lump sum.

[GeeTee TSI]

As long as there is no drive through, there is no real advantage IMHO with annual toll payment. The financial benefit is a given as with any advance payments made.

[anjan_c2007]

MoRTH has been issuing some irrational and some rational statements based on decisions taken or yet to be taken. The one time toll pass (both annual and lifetime) is among the rational ones.

But lo and behold ! It would become irrational if somewhere up there in MoRTH moots the idea of tagging the annual or lifetime toll pass charges compulsorily with every new car's ex- showroom price.

[MadinMumbai]

Er...what is the 28%GST+ CVD+State road tax etc? Plus the various taxes on fuel?

At the inception weren't these supposed to be for use of the infrastructure? Then somewhere along the route it was decided that users can pay more for better highways, and of course users, whose bones were bruised, broken and crushed from the roads they drove on, bought into the idea; so we started paying toll for using the roads, many of which were still so pathetic that one had to wonder what the toll was for. But progress, the users decided, was worth paying for, even if it was mostly an illusion on the horizon.

Today this scheme seems like a good idea to a lot of people here. Let's just say calling it a lifetime pass (or an annual fee) is not the final resting stop for this upward march of taxes. The government, addicted to the good stuff, will, sometime in the near future, think of other sources of revenue, maybe along the lines of 'new improvement cess' or, perhaps using its creativity in nomenclature, offer 'Tyres on Tarmac (TOT)' fees.

[ike]

Whoever came up with these numbers are on very strong substance. Roads are usually built by private companies on a BOT basis these days. If tolls are being forgone, how are the private parties involved supposed to recover their investment?

It’s reasonable to expect the government to modernize toll collection using GPS or distance-based systems. However, offering access to highways for just 2k per year or a one-time 30k fee for the vehicle's lifetime (let’s say 15 years) seems overly simplistic bordering on stupid. A flat-rate system like this doesn’t account for the varying levels of road usage, and it fails to adequately address the cost of maintaining infrastructure. And there's no clarity on different classes of vehicles. Is this 2k for all types of vehicles? Or just LMV?

I pay about 2500 bucks toll on a 1500KM trip very frequently. A 50% reduction would go a long way, forget 2k per year. Over the years I have never come across a single toll charge that has seen any reduction. It is always revised upwards.

Originally Posted by bblost

Might as well charge some 5,000 extra in the road tax we pay at time of buying a car.

And the state that collects the road tax is supposed to pass this on to the union govt? Won't they ask for their cut?

[supernova105]

While it may seem like a welcome move, we can all bet there will be a lot of fine-print to this condition where they'll say it can be only used on National highways, and not expressways (Yamuna, MPEW, Samruddhi, Shaktipeeth, etc. )
Even then, it seems like a good deal if the NHAI highways are maintained well, based on this enormous upfront amount collected

[anb]

Originally Posted by ike

Whoever came up with these numbers are on very strong substance. Roads are usually built by private companies on a BOT basis these days. If tolls are being forgone, how are the private parties involved supposed to recover their investment?

It’s reasonable to expect the government to modernize toll collection using GPS or distance-based systems. However, offering access to highways for just 2k per year or a one-time 30k fee for the vehicle's lifetime (let’s say 15 years) seems overly simplistic bordering on stupid. A flat-rate system like this doesn’t account for the varying levels of road usage, and it fails to adequately address the cost of maintaining infrastructure. And there's no clarity on different classes of vehicles. Is this 2k for all types of vehicles? Or just LMV?

What’s the use of road & infrastructure cess on Petrol & diesel, Rs 18/ per litre ? If the roads are build only on BOT basis, then why we are paying that much cess on petrol & diesel ?

[ike]

Originally Posted by anb

What’s the use of road & infrastructure cess on Petrol & diesel, Rs 18/ per litre ? If the roads are build only on BOT basis, then why we are paying that much cess on petrol & diesel ?

I've since long accepted that the various cesses, income taxes, and other indirect taxes I pay to both central and state governments don’t seem to offer much in return . Of course, one could debate this endlessly.

[anb]

Originally Posted by ike

I've since long accepted that the various cesses, income taxes, and other indirect taxes I pay to both central and state governments don’t seem to offer much in return . Of course, one could debate this endlessly.

This cess has the term “road” mentioned in it and that makes it different from other direct and indirect taxes. But every new road build by the centre (NHAI) has a toll, even the Munnar 2 lane highway. Then what’s the use of road cess ? We pay road tax to state governments and so far we don’t have to pay toll on most SH ,which is about to be changed.

[DicKy]

Originally Posted by anb

We pay road tax to state governments and so far we don’t have to pay toll on most SH ,which is about to be changed.

Came as a shock when I opened today's newspaper. From a state that said, we dont want any toll roads to toll will be collected only for bridges to toll can be collected for NHAI new widened roads to now proposing tolls for State Highways.

Kerala has come a long way.

[Pkumarblore]

Hello All,
As far as I have understood, isn't this only applicable to private cars which which are entitled for a PASS, mostly for people who reside in the jurisdiction of particular Toll Plazas who use that stretch of the NH on a regular basis. I think these Passes are issued by Toll Plazas because they are "local residents" with valid address proof. These Passes cost about Rs.350-500/- per month depending on the distances.
Please correct me if I am wrong.
I'll be very happy if it is extended to all private car owners.

[Ravi Parwan]

No way is this annual toll pass for all highways. Most likely this would be for a single toll.

Currently toll range from 1.5 Rs to 2 Rs per km. This is based on applied multipliers on base rate of 0.65 Rs per km as per NHAI.
https://www.financialexpress.com/bus...-play-3333028/

So for 3000 km per annum, you should be able to travel between 1200-1500 km only on highways.

I remember we earlier had annual road tax collected on each car. that moved to one time road tax collected at time of registration.

Atleast the toll tax collected is a form of direct taxation. Only the users of the road/ highways end up paying tolls. If we move away from this then the collection of charges and usage of road would diverge and we will end up with lack of accountability/ transparency on the road revenues and expenses.
Currently we can fault the contractors directly for the poor condition of the road and they can be held accountable and pulled up (I know it does not actually happen, but the provision is there).

Going to a flat rate is always fraught with inaccuracy and leakage. Instead of playing with the numbers/tariffs, it would be better if the government concentrated on improving the requirements from toll operators for road upkeep.

[Small Bot]

They are just 'mulling' over it. I will accept it is a fact once it is fully implemented. Until then, we have seen enough such proposals be conveniently forgotten.

[wheelspinner]

Originally Posted by sarathlal

The government is likely to introduce an annual toll pass for Rs 3,000 and a lifetime pass for Rs 30,000 for private car owners, allowing unlimited use of national highways.

Looks like a good proposal for those making use of the new toll based highways and expressways.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/.../117933096.cms

Why do they charge 15 year road tax?

The roads are in no good state. It is a mystery where that money is going. Someone file an RTI.