## Policy Analysis Report: Notification S.O. 1424(E) Regarding Fee Collection on National Highway 31 in Bihar
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes Notification S.O. 1424(E) issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on March 28, 2022, which concerns the levying of fees on mechanical vehicles for the use of a section of National Highway 31 in Bihar. The notification establishes the fee structure for the Simaria-Khagaria section, outlines the responsibilities of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in collecting these fees, and details specific provisions regarding fee rates, exemptions, and periodic revisions. The core purpose of the notification is to regulate and enable the collection of user fees to recover the investment in the highway infrastructure.
**2. Introduction:**
The purpose of this report is to provide an informative analysis of Notification S.O. 1424(E) regarding the fee collection on a section of National Highway 31 in the State of Bihar. The analysis is based solely on the content of the provided policy text.
**3. Policy Overview:**
This is a *new policy* establishing fees for the use of a specific section of the National Highway.
* **Core Objective(s):** The primary objective of this notification is to levy and collect user fees from mechanical vehicles utilizing the specified section of National Highway 31 in Bihar to recover the capital investment in the highway project.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
This new policy addresses the need to generate revenue for the maintenance and improvement of national highway infrastructure. The text refers to Section 11 of the National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988, which implies that the NHAI is responsible for managing and maintaining the stretch of highway. The fee collection is likely intended to provide a sustainable funding source for these activities. The implementation of a user fee system is intended to contribute to the overall financial sustainability and continued development of the national highway network.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
This is a new policy, so we will detail the main provisions.
* **Fee Levy:** The Central Government levies a fee on mechanical vehicles for using a four-lane or more lane section of 59.746 km length, and structures more than 60m of 4.860 km length having length of 0.486 km from design kilometer 206.050 to kilometer 266.282 (existing km 209.945 to km 270.000) of National Highway number 31.
* **Fee Rates (Table 1):** The notification specifies the base fee rates per kilometer for various vehicle types, using the year 2007-08 as the base year for pricing.
* **Fee Collection Authority:** The NHAI is authorized to collect the fee, either directly or through a contractor.
* **Fee Plaza Location (Table 2):** The fee plaza is located at Design Km. 232.600 Existing Ch.Km.239.441 of NH31 near Shahpur village in Begusarai district of State Bihar.
* **Structure Fee:** Additional fees are applicable for using structures longer than 60 meters, calculated by converting the length of structures into an equivalent road length using an equalization factor of 10 (Table 3). The structures are ROBs located at From Km. 207.628 To Km. 207.744 of 0.116 km, From Km. 209.350 To Km. 209.450 of 0.100 km and a major bridge located at From Km. 264.665 To Km. 264.935 of 0.270 km.
* **Monthly Pass:** A monthly pass is available for non-commercial vehicles registered to individuals residing within 20 kilometers of the fee plaza at a rate of Rs. 285.00 for the year 2021-22.
* **Multiple Journey Passes (Table 4):** Passes for multiple journeys are available at discounted rates, based on the number of journeys and the validity period.
* **Commercial Vehicle Fee:** Commercial vehicles registered in the district where the fee plaza is located (excluding those with National permits) are eligible for a 50% fee reduction, provided no service road or alternative road is available.
* **Overloaded Vehicle Fee:** Overloaded vehicles are subject to a fee as per the subrule 1A of rule 10 and must remove the excess load before using the highway.
* **Annual Revision:** The fee rates will be revised annually based on the completed length of the section and in accordance with rule 5.
* **Capital Cost and Reduction:** The fee will be reduced to 40% of the rates after the recovery of the capital cost.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
The primary target audience and stakeholders include:
* Owners and operators of all mechanical vehicles using the specified section of National Highway 31.
* Residents living within 20 kilometers of the fee plaza who may be eligible for monthly passes.
* Commercial vehicle operators, especially those registered in the district where the fee plaza is located.
* The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and its contractors, responsible for collecting and managing the fees.
* The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, overseeing the implementation of the policy.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency:** The NHAI is the primary responsible agency for implementing the fee collection process.
* **Procedures:** The NHAI is responsible for:
* Collecting fees at the designated fee plaza.
* Issuing passes.
* Calculating and revising fee rates annually.
* Maintaining records of capital cost recovery.
* Publishing revised fee rates in newspapers.
* **Timelines:** The notification is effective from March 28, 2022. The monthly pass rate is specified for the year 2021-22, suggesting an annual revision cycle. Fee revisions are to be done annually.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The intended outcomes of this policy include:
* Generation of revenue to recover the capital cost of the Simaria-Khagaria section of National Highway 31.
* Funding for the maintenance and improvement of the highway infrastructure.
* Regulation of traffic flow through fee collection, potentially encouraging the use of alternative routes for local traffic where available.
* Enforcement of load limits on vehicles to prevent damage to the highway.
**9. Conclusion:**
Notification S.O. 1424(E) establishes a framework for user fee collection on a specific stretch of National Highway 31 in Bihar. It outlines the fee structure, identifies the responsible agency, and details provisions for implementation, revisions, and exemptions. This notification is significant as it represents a step towards ensuring the financial sustainability of national highway infrastructure development and maintenance.
Key Entities Referenced
National Highways Authority of India: An organization referred to as 'the Authority' responsible for the stretch of National Highway No. 31.
National Highway No. 31: A highway with a specific section from kilometer 153.300 to kilometer 410.000 (KhagariaBakhtiyarpurPurnea section) in the State of Bihar entrusted to the National Highways Authority of India.
Bihar: The state in India where the specified section of National Highway No. 31 is located.
National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988: The Act under which the Central Government entrusted the stretch of National Highway No. 31 to the National Highways Authority of India.
National Highways Act, 1956: The Act that confers powers regarding levying fees on mechanical vehicles.
National Highways Fee Determination of Rates and Collection Rules, 2008: The rules read with the National Highways Act, 1956, that enable the Central Government to levy fees on mechanical vehicles.
Simaria Khagaria: A section of National Highway number 31 in the State of Bihar from design kilometer 206.050 to kilometer 266.282 (existing km 209.945 to km 270.000).
Shahpur: A village in Begusarai district of State Bihar, near where the Fee Plaza is located.
Begusarai: A district in the State of Bihar where Shahpur village is located.
KhagariaBakhtiyarpurPurnea: A section of National Highway No. 31
New Delhi: Place of notification
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-28032022-234575
xxxGIDHxxx
CG-DL-E-28032022-234575
xxxGIDExxx
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 1382] नई दिल्ली, सोमवार, माच ग28, 2022/चत्रै 7, 1944
No. 1382] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2022/CHAITRA 7, 1944
सड़क पररवहन और रािमाग ग मत्रं ालय
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल् ली, 28 माच,ग 2022
का.आ. 1424(अ).—िबदक, केन्द्रीय सरकार न े भारतीय राष्ट्रीय रािमाग ग प्राजधकरण अजधजनयम, 1988
(1988 का 68) की धारा 11 के अधीन िारी की गई भारत सरकार के सड़क पररवहन और रािमाग ग मंत्रालय की
अजधसूचना संख्या का.आ. 1035 (अ), दिनांक 07 मई, 2010 द्वारा जबहार राज्य म ें राष्ट्रीय रािमाग ग संख्या-31 के
(खगररया-बजख्तयारपुर-पुरजनया सेक्िन) 153.300 दकमी स े 410.000 दक.मी. तक के खडं को भारतीय राष्ट्रीय रािमाग ग
प्राजधकरण (जिसे इसम ें इसके पश्चात् “प्राजधकरण” कहा िाए) को सौंपा ह;ै
अतः अब, केन्द्रीय सरकार न,े राष्ट्रीय रािमाग ग िल्ु क (िरों का अवधारण एव ं सग्रं हण) जनयम, 2008 (जिसे इसम ें
इसके पश्चात “जनयम’’ कहा िाए), के जनयम 3 के साथ परित राष्ट्रीय रािमाग ग अजधजनयम, 1956 (1956 का 48) की धारा
7 द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करत े हुए, जबहार राज्य म ें राष्ट्रीय रािमाग ग संख्या 31 के जसमररया -खगररया सेक्िन के
जडिाइन दकलोमीटर 206.050 दक.मी. स े 266.282 दक.मी. (जवद्यमान दक.मी. 209.945 स े 270.000 दक.मी.) तक के
सड़क खंड की जनवल लंबाई 59.746 दक.मी. के चार और अजधक लेन सेक्िन और 4.860 दक.मी (जिसकी लम् बाई 0.486
दक.मी.) की समकक्ष संरचना लम् बाई (जिनकी लम् बाई 60 मीटर स े अजधक ह)ै के उपयोग के जलए यांजत्रक वाहनो पर नीच े
ताजलका 1 के स्ट्तम्भ (2) म ें जवजनर्िष्टग िर पर नीच े ताजलका 1 के स्ट् तम् भ (1) म ें जवजनर्िष्ग ट प्रकार के वाहनों पर िल्ु क
2163 GI/2022 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
उद्ग्रहीत करती ह ै एव ं प्राजधकरण को अपन े अजधकाररयों के माध्यम स े अथवा संजविाकार के माध्यम स े उि िुल्क को
संग्रहीत करने के जलए प्राजधकृत करती ह,ै अथातग ्ः-
ताजलका 1
वाहन का प्रकार आधार वर्ग 2007-08 के जलए
प्रजत दक.मी. िल्ु क की आधार
िर (रुपए म)ें
(1) (2)
कार, िीप, वैन या हल् के मोटर वाहन 0.65
हल् के वाजणजज्यक वाहन, हल् के माल वाहक वाहन अथवा जमनी बस 1.05
बस या रक ( िो धरु ी वाल)े 2.20
तीन धरु ी वाल ेवाजणजज्यक वाहन 2.40
भारी संजनमागण मिीनरी (एच.सी.एम.) या अथग मूववंग यंत्र (ई.एम.ई) या बहुधुरीय 3.45
वाहन (एम.ए.वी.)(चार स ेछह धुरी वाले)
बड़े आकार वाल ेवाहन (सात या अजधक धरु ी वाल)े 4.20
1. नीच े वसूल एव ं एकत्र दकया िाने वाला िल्ु क, िुल्क प्लािा पर, ऐसे िुल्क प्लािा के जलए जवजनर्िष्टग सड़क की
जनवल लम्बाई हते ु िये और भुगतान योग्य होगा अथागत:-
ताजलका -2
िुल्क प्लािा का अवस्ट्थान लंबाई (दक.मी.म)ें जिसके जलए िल्ु क िर जिस पर िुल्क संिेय ह ै
संिेय ह ै
( चैनेि)
जबहार राज्य के बेगुसराए जिले म ें 59.746 चार या अजधक लेन के जलए
िाहपुर गांव के जनकट राष्ट्रीय रािमाग ग (10 करोड़ रुपए से अजधक लागत के ऊपर ताजलका -1 में
-31 के जडिाइन दक.मी. 232.600 बाइपास की लम् बाई को छोड़कर और उजल्लजखत आधार िरों का
60 मीटर से अजधक लम् बाई की
(जवद्यमान चैनेि/दक.मी. 239.441 100%
संरचनाओं को छोड़कर)
दक.मी.) पर
2. उपयुगि के अजतररि, जनम्नजलजखत संरचनाओं, जिनकी लम्बाई 60 मीटर स े अजधक ह,ै के उपयोग के जलए ऐसी
संरचनाओं की लम्बाई को समकरण गणु क 10 स े गणु ा करके रािमागग की समकक्ष लम्बाई म ें पररवर्तगत करत े हुए,
जनम्नजलजखत िुल्क प्लािाओं पर जनम्नजलजखत भी िये और भुगतान योग्य होगाः
ताजलका-3
िुल्क प्लािा का अवस्ट्थान सड़क की लम्बाई के समान समकक्ष सड़क िर जिस पर िुल्क िेय ह ै
पररवतर्तगत सरं चना की लम्बाई (दकमी. म)ें
(चैनेि)
लम्बाई (दकमी. म)ें
जबहार राज्य के बगे ुसराए 0.486 4.860 चार और अजधक लेन के जलए
जिले म ेंिाहपुर गांव के जनकट ऊपर ताजलका-1 में
राष्ट्रीय रािमागग -31 के उजल्लजखत आधार िरों का
जडिाइन दक.मी. 232.600
100%
(जवद्यमान चैनेि/दक.मी.
239.441) पर[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
^ जववरण जनम् नानुसार ह;ै
चैनेि का संरचना का नाम एव ं कुल लंबाई (दक.मी.) म ें
आरंभ (दक.मी. स)े समाजि (दक.मी तक) प्रकार
(1) आरओबी
207.628 207.744 0.116
(2) आरओबी
209.350 209.450 0.100
(3) बड़ा पुल
264.665 264.935 0.270
कुल
0.486
3. जिस व्यजि का अपना यांजत्रक वाहन, गैर-वाजणजज्यक प्रयोिनों के जलए पंिीकृत हुआ हो और वह िल्ु क प्लािा स े बीस
दकलोमीटर तक की िरू ी म ेंही रहता/रहती हो, उसके जलए वर्ग 2021-22 के जलए माजसक पास की िर 285.00/- रुपए (िो
सौ पचासी रुपए मात्र) होगी और उि जनयमों के प्रावधानों के अनुसार उसम ें प्रत्येक वर् ग संिोधन दकया िायेगा ।
4. रािमाग ग खण्ड पर बहुयात्राओं हते ु पास जनम्नजलजखत िरों पर िारी दकया िाएगा, अथागत्ः
ताजलका - 4
संिेय राजि अनुज्ञात एकतरफा यात्राओं जवजधमान्द्यता की अवजध
की अजधकतम संख्या
एकतरफा यात्रा के जलए िल्ु क का डेढ़ गुना िो भुगतान के समय से चौबीस घंटे
पचास एकल यात्राओं के जलए संिेय िुल्क की पचास भुगतान की दिनांकः से एक माह
राजि का िो-जतहाई
5. जिस जिले म ें िुल्क प्लािा जस्ट्थत ह,ै उसम ें पंिीकृत वाजणजज्यक वाहन (राष्ट्रीय परजमट के अधीन चल रह े वाहनों को
छोड़कर) के जलए िुल्क उस श्रणे ी के जलए वाहन के जलए जनधागररत िुल्क का 50% होगा बिते दक ऐसे वाजणजज्यक वाहनों
के उपयोग के जलए कोई सर्वगस सड़क अथवा वैकजल्पक सड़क उपलब्ध न हो।
6. िो यांजत्रक वाहन अपनी श्रणे ी के जलए जनधागररत अनुज्ञेय भार की अपक्षे ा अजधक भार स े लिा हुआ होगा उसके चालक
अथवा माजलक अथवा प्रभारी व्यजि को ऐसे अजधक भार स े लिे हुए वाहन को राष्ट्रीय रािमागग म ें प्रवेि कराने के जलए
िुल्क संग्रहण एिेंसी को उि जनयमों के जनयम 10 के उपजनयम 1ए में जवजनर्िष्टग के बराबर िुल्क का भुगतान करना होगा
और उसे रािमागग खण्ड का उपयोग करन े की तब तक अनुमजत नहीं होगी िब तक दक ऐसे याजं त्रक वाहन स े अजधक भार को
हटा न दिया िाए।
7. यांजत्रक वाहनों की श्रेणी, उनके जलए अनुज्ञेय भार, छूट-प्राि वाहनों की श्रेणी, सर्वगस रोड, वैकजल्पक सड़क आदि सजहत
सभी पररभार्ाए ं उि जनयमों म ें जवजनर्िष्टग पररभार्ाओं के अनसु ार होंगी।
8. उि जनयमों के जनयम 12 के अनुसार,प्रयोगकतागओं की िानकारी के जलए िल्ु क की िरों को प्रिर्िगत दकया िाएगा।
9. ऊपर सारणी-1 म ें यथा-उजल्लजखत, आधार वर् ग 2007-08 के जलए प्रजत दकलोमीटर िल्ु क की आधार िर के
आधार पर, यांजत्रक वाहनों स े जलए िाने वाले वास्ट्तजवक िल्ु क और कटौजतयों की गणना प्राजधकरण द्वारा खंडों की पूरी कर
ली गई लम्बाई के आधार पर की िायेगी और उसम ें उि जनयमों के जनयम 5 के अनुसार वार्र्गक तौर पर संिोधन दकया
िाएगा तथा उसे, तिनुसार, अग्रं ेिी और स्ट्थानीय भार्ा के कम-स-े कम एक-एक समाचार पत्र म ें प्रकाजित दकया िाएगा।
10. इस पररयोिना का अनुमाजनत पूंिीगत लागत 688.03 करोड़ रुपए ह।ै [पूंिी लागत म ें पररवतगन हो सकता ह ै क्य ोंदक
भूजम अिगन, िन-उपयोजगता सवे ाओं का स्ट् थान बिलन,े पेड़ों की कटाई आदि िैसे दियाकलाप अभी पूरे दकए िान े िेर् ह ैं ।4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
अंजतम पूंिीगत लागत को अलग स े अजधसूजचत दकया िाएगा ]। प्राजधकरण द्वारा प्रयोगकताओंग स े वसूल दकए गए िल्ु क के
िररए पूंिीगत लागत की वसलू ी का ररकाडग रखा िाएगा और पूंिीगत लागत की वसलू ी हो िाने के पश् चात, लगाए िान े
वाले िल्ु क की िरों को घटाकर 40% कर दिया िाएगा और उि जनयमों के अनुसार इस म ें वार्र्गक तौर पर संिोधन दकया
िाएगा।
[फा. स.ं एनएचएआई/12015/02/बीिीएस/2010/तक./पैकेि-III/पाट(ग 13)]
अजमत वरिान, संयुि सजचव
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 28th March, 2022
S.O. 1424(E).—Whereas by notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Road Transport and
Highways number S.O.1035 (E) dated the 7th May, 2010, issued under Section 11 of the National Highways Authority
of India Act, 1988 (68 of 1988), the Central Government has entrusted the stretch from kilometer 153.300 to kilometer
410.000 (Khagaria-Bakhtiyarpur-Purnea section) of National Highway No. 31 in the State of Bihar to the National
Highways Authority of India (hereinafter referred to as the “Authority”);
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 7 of the National Highways Act, 1956 (48 of
1956), read with rule 3 of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008
(hereinafter referred to as the “rules”), the Central Government hereby levies the fee on mechanical vehicles at the rate
specified in column (2) of the Table 1 for net road section length of 59.746 km for the use of four and more lane
section and for equivalent structure length (having length more than 60m) of 4.860 km (having length of 0.486 km) on
the type of vehicles specified in column (1) of the Table 1 below of Simaria – Khagaria section from design kilometer
206.050 to kilometer 266.282 (existing km 209.945 to km 270.000) of National Highway number 31 in the State
of Bihar and authorises the Authority to collect, either through its officials or through a contractor, the said fee,
namely:-
TABLE-1
Base rate of fee per km for the base
Type of Vehicle year 2007-08
(in Rupees)
(1) (2)
Car, Jeep, Van or Light Motor Vehicle 0.65
Light Commercial Vehicle, Light Goods Vehicle or Mini Bus 1.05
Bus or Truck (Two Axles) 2.20
Three-axle commercial vehicles 2.40
Heavy Construction Machinery (HCM) or Earth Moving Equipment (EME) or
3.45
Multi Axle Vehicle (MAV) (four to six axles)
Oversized Vehicles (seven or more axles) 4.20
1. The fee to be levied and collected hereunder shall be due and payable at the Fee Plaza for net road length
specified for such Fee Plaza namely:-
TABLE-2
Length (in km) for which Fee is Rate at which fee is payable
Location of Fee Plaza (Chainage)
payable
At Design Km. 232.600 (Existing 59.746 100% for four and more
Ch./Km.239.441) of NH-31 near Shahpur [Excluding length of Bypass (costing lane of the base rates
village in Begusarai district of State Bihar >10Cr.) and length of structures mentioned in Table-1 above
(>60m)][भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 5
2. In addition to above, the following fee shall also be due and payable for the use of the following structures
having length more than 60m at the following Fee Plaza, by converting the length of structures into an equivalent
length of highway by multiplying the length of such structures by an equalisation factor of 10 :-
TABLE-3
Location of Fee Plaza (Chainage) Length of structures (in Equivalent road Rate at which fee is
km) to be converted into length (in km) payable
equivalent road length
At Design Km. 232.600 (Existing 100% for four and more
Ch./Km.239.441) of NH-31 near Shahpur lanes of the base rates
0.486 4.860
village in Begusarai district of State Bihar mentioned in Table-1
above
^ The details are as under:
Chainage Type of Structure Length (in km)
From Km. To Km.
1 207.628 207.744 ROB 0.116
2 209.350 209.450 ROB 0.100
3 264.665 264.935 Major Bridge 0.270
Total 0.486
3. The rate of monthly pass for a person who owns a mechanical vehicle registered for non-commercial purposes
and resides within a distance of twenty kilometers from the fee plaza is Rs.285.00 (Rupees Two Hundred & Eighty
Five only) for the year 2021-22 and is subject to revision every year as per the provisions of the said rules.
4. For multiple journeys on the highway section, passes shall be issued at the following rates, namely:-
TABLE-4
Maximum number of one way
Amount Payable Period of Validity
journeys allowed
One and one-half times of the fee for Twenty four hours from the time of
Two
one way journey payment
Two-third of amount of the fee payable
Fifty One month from date of payment
for fifty single journeys
5. Fee for commercial vehicle (excluding vehicles plying under National permit) registered in the district where the
fee plaza falls shall be 50% of the specified rate for that category of vehicle provided no service road or alternative
road is available for use of such commercial vehicles.
6. The driver or owner or a person in charge of a mechanical vehicle which is loaded in excess of permissible load
specified for its category, shall be liable to pay fee for entering the overloaded vehicle on the National Highway to the
fee collecting agency, equal to the fee specified in sub-rule 1A of rule 10 of the said rules, and shall not be entitled to
make use of the highway section unless the excess load has been removed from such mechanical vehicle.
7. All definitions including category of mechanical vehicles, its permissible load, category of exempted vehicles,
service road, alternative road, etc. shall be as per definitions specified in the said rules.
8. The fee rates shall be displayed for information of the users in accordance with rule 12 of the said rules.6 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
9. Based on the base rate of fee per kilometer for the base year 2007-08 as mentioned in Table–1 above, the actual
amount of fee to be charged from the mechanical vehicles and the discounts will be calculated by the Authority on the
basis of the completed length of the section and revised annually in accordance with the rule 5 of the said rules and the
same shall be published in at least one newspaper in English and vernacular language.
10. The estimated capital cost of the project is Rupees 688.03 crore. [The capital cost is subject to variation as the
activities of land acquisition, utility shifting, tree cutting, etc. are yet to be completed and the final capital cost will be
notified separately]. The Authority shall maintain a record of the recovery of capital cost through user fee realised and
after recovery of the capital cost, the fee leviable shall be reduced to 40% of the rates and shall be revised annually in
accordance with the said rules.
[F. No. . NHAI/12015/02/BGS/2010/Tech/Pkg-III/-Part(13)]
AMIT VARADAN, Jt. Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.