Parliament Question: Exemption of Toll

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2065 ANSWERED ON 30th JULY, 2026 EXEMPTION OF TOLL 2065. SHRI N K PREMACHANDRAN: Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government proposes to exempt State owned public transport system from remittance of toll on National Highway, if so, the details of action taken thereon; (b) whether the Union Government share the toll collected from NH-66 with State considering the share of State for land acquisition cost and GST exemption and if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the Union Government examined the request of KSRTC for exempting from paying toll, if so, the details of action taken thereon; (d) whether the Government has considered the additional burden of Rs. two crores on KSRTC per month for payment of toll, if so, the details thereof; (e) whether the Union Government considers the crisis of KSRTC, if so, the details thereof; and (f) whether the Union Government discourage the State owned public transport system, if so, the details of action taken to exempt KSRTC? 1ANSWER THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI) (a) Provisions of National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 are applicable on all types of transport vehicles including State Road Transport Corporations owned or operated vehicles irrespective of its ownership. At present, there is no such proposal under consideration with Government to grant an exemption from the payment of user fees (Toll) to State owned public transport undertakings for the use of National Highways. (b) User fee at fee plazas on National Highways (NHs) is collected uniformly across the country in accordance with the provisions of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 and the respective Concession Agreements. The revenue collected by the Central Government from user fees on NHs, including those in Kerala, is deposited into the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI). Funds provided through budgetary allocations from the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI) are then utilized for the maintenance, development, and expansion of National Highways. The contribution of the State Government of Kerala enabled projects in Kerala to be given higher priority despite the extremely high cost of Land Acquisition (LA) in the State. For development of NH 66 in Kerala, total Land Acquisition (LA) cost is about Rs. 23,350 crore and 2construction cost is about Rs. 28,370 crore. In the total cost, the contribution of the State government is Rs. 5,800 crore. Further, there is an overall social and economic benefit to the local from the infrastructure development through National Highways. Such development contributes to multiple advantages, including the expansion of towns and cities and broader economic growth within the State. (c) to (f) User fee for use of the section of National Highway is levied uniformly across all States as per the provisions of the NH Fee Rules including State Transport Undertaking buses. No blanket exemption from the payment of user fees has been provided to State Transport Undertakings under the extant Rules. There are already various provisions under the NH Fee Rules, that provide discounts (at Annexure) on user fees for frequent users of National Highways across the country. These benefits are also available to the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). 3ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) to (f) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2065 FOR ANSWER ON 30th JULY, 2026 ASKED BY SHRI N K PREMCHANDRAN REGARDING EXEMPTION OF TOLL. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Details of discounts available to such highway users as per National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008: (i) For commercial vehicles registered in particular District: Fee for commercial vehicle (excluding vehicles plying under National Permit) registered in the district where the fee plaza falls shall be 50% of the prescribed rate for that category of vehicle, provided no service road or alternative road is available for use of such commercial vehicles. (ii) Monthly pass provision for frequent users: Monthly pass provision for frequent users by paying 2/3rd fee for 50 single trips for a month. (iii) Return journey pass by paying 1½ times of single fee for returning within 24 hours. ***** 4