Govt to scrap 125 toll plazas by month end: Gadkari

Aiming to spare general public from levy at highways, the government has announced it will scrap 125 toll plazas in the country by the end of February.

"We will cancel toll at around 125 plazas on some highways by the end of this month," Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said.

The minister added that toll collection at some 65 road projects have already stopped.

The government has also decided to make road projects toll free where less than Rs 50-crore (Rs 500-million) investment has been made.

The electronic toll (e-toll) collection system introduced in the country will help save Rs 88,000 crore (Rs 880 billion) and cut waiting time at toll plazas significantly, Gadkari said quoting a Transport Corporation of India-IIM Kolkata study.

The study said, "Rs 60,000 crore (Rs 600 billion) was lost on account of various delays at check posts and electronic toll collection could save Rs 88,000 crore (Rs 880 billion)."

The minister added that out of the 350 toll points on the Mumbai-Delhi route, 140 have been converted into E-toll points. By completion of the e-toll work in the country, this amount of Rs 88,000 crore would be saved.

For implementing ETC across the country, a new company -- Indian Highways Management Company Limited -- has been constituted.

It has equity participation from National Highways Authority of India (25%), concessionaires (50%) and financial institutions (25%).

Its objectives are collection of toll through ETC System and to manage the project strategically, administratively, legally, technically and commercially.

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