## Policy Analysis Report: National Highway No. 161A Fee Levy
**1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a new policy notification from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, concerning the levy of fees for the use of the Sarsam to Kothari section of National Highway No. 161A in Maharashtra. The policy, effective May 28, 2025, establishes a user fee based on vehicle type and road length, authorizing the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to collect these fees. Key findings include the fee structure, applicable rates, locations for fee collection (Dudhgaon village), and provisions for local residents and commercial vehicles.
**2. Introduction:** This report provides an informative analysis of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notification S.O. 2382(E), dated May 28, 2025, regarding the levy of user fees on National Highway No. 161A in Maharashtra. The analysis is based solely on the information contained within the provided policy text.
**3. Policy Overview:**
* This is a new policy establishing user fees.
* **Core Objective(s):** The core objectives, as inferred from the text, are to enable the collection of revenue for the use of the Sarsam to Kothari section of National Highway No. 161A, potentially contributing to the recovery of the project's capital cost.
**4. Background and Rationale:** The policy addresses the need for revenue generation to maintain and improve National Highway No. 161A after the stretch of highway was entrusted to the State Government of Maharashtra. The implementation of user fees is a common practice to recover the cost of highway construction and maintenance.
**5. Key Provisions:** This policy notification establishes the following key provisions:
* **Fee Levy:** Imposes a user fee on vehicles using the two-lane with paved shoulder section of the highway from km 33.000 to km 90.000. The fee is set at sixty percent of the base rate (2007-08) per km for each vehicle type, as outlined in Table 1.
* **Fee Structure (Table 1):** Defines the base rate of fee per km for various vehicle types, including cars/jeeps/vans, light commercial vehicles, buses/trucks (two axles, three axles), heavy construction machinery, and oversized vehicles.
* **Fee Plaza Location (Table 2):** Specifies the location of the fee plaza at Dudhgaon village, Taluka Kinwat, District Nanded in Maharashtra (chainage Km 88200), defining the applicable road length (49.343 km) for fee calculation.
* **Fee for Structures (Table 3):** Establishes an additional fee for the use of structures (bridges and ROBs) longer than 60 meters, converting their length into equivalent road length by multiplying by a factor of 10.
* **Monthly Pass:** Sets the rate for a monthly pass for non-commercial vehicles owned by residents within 20 km of the fee plaza at Rs. 350 for the year 2025-26, subject to annual revision.
* **Multiple Journey Passes (Table 4):** Defines rates for multiple journeys, including a 24-hour pass (1.5 times the one-way fee) and a monthly pass for fifty single journeys (two-thirds of the fee payable for fifty single journeys).
* **Commercial Vehicle Discount:** Provides a 50% discount for commercial vehicles registered in the district where the fee plaza is located (excluding those under National permit) if no service road or alternative road is available.
* **Overloaded Vehicle Fee:** Mandates a fee for overloaded vehicles entering the highway, as per sub-rule 1A of rule 10 of the National Highways Fee Determination of Rates and Collection Rules, 2008 (not detailed in this excerpt).
* **Reference to Existing Rules:** Refers to the National Highways Fee Determination of Rates and Collection Rules, 2008, for definitions of vehicle categories, permissible loads, exempted vehicles, and other relevant terms.
* **Fee Rate Display:** Requires the display of fee rates for public information, as per rule 12 of the National Highways Fee Determination of Rates and Collection Rules, 2008.
* **Annual Revision and Publication:** Stipulates that NHAI will calculate the actual fee amount based on the completed length of the section and revise it annually per rule 5 of the 2008 rules, publishing the revised rates in English and vernacular newspapers.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
* **Directly Affected:** Vehicle owners and operators using the Sarsam to Kothari section of National Highway No. 161A. Residents living within 20 km of the Dudhgaon fee plaza.
* **Stakeholders:** National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the State Government of Maharashtra, and potential contractors involved in fee collection. Local businesses relying on transport via this highway.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency:** The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is responsible for collecting the fees, either through its own officials or through a contractor.
* **Timelines:** The policy is effective from May 28, 2025. The monthly pass rate is specified for the year 2025-26, suggesting annual revisions will occur.
* **Procedures:** The policy refers to the National Highways Fee Determination of Rates and Collection Rules, 2008, implying that the procedures outlined in those rules will govern the fee collection process. The actual amount to be charged will be calculated and revised annually based on rule 5 of the 2008 rules.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact:**
* **Intended Outcomes:** The primary intended outcome is to generate revenue for the maintenance and improvement of National Highway No. 161A.
* **Likely Impact:** The policy will likely increase the cost of transportation along the highway, potentially affecting businesses and individuals who rely on it. The monthly pass provision may mitigate the impact on local residents. The revenue generated could contribute to better road quality and infrastructure improvements.
**9. Conclusion:** The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notification establishes a fee structure for the Sarsam to Kothari section of National Highway No. 161A, delegating the collection of these fees to the NHAI. This policy aims to generate revenue to support the maintenance and development of the highway. The specific impact will depend on the actual fee rates calculated and revised annually by the NHAI, as well as the effectiveness of the fee collection process. This policy introduces a new cost for using this section of the highway.
Key Entities Referenced
545.64 crore: Estimated capital cost of the project in Rupees.
Government of India: The governing body issuing the notification.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The ministry within the Government of India responsible for road transport and highways, which issued the notification.
New Delhi: The location where the notification was issued.
May 28, 2025: The date of the notification.
S.O. 2382E: The notification number.
S.O. 5420E: A previous notification number related to the current notification.
December 13, 2024: Date of a previous notification S.O. 5420E
National Highways Act, 1956: The act under which the notification is issued.
Central Government: The governing authority levying the fee.
National Highway no.161A: The specific highway affected by this notification, located in the state of Maharashtra.
State Government of Maharashtra: The state government to which the stretch of National Highway no.161A has been entrusted.
National Highways Fee Determination of Rates and Collection Rules, 2008: The rules governing the determination of fee rates and collection for national highways.
National Highways Authority of India: The authority responsible for collecting the fee, either directly or through a contractor.
Table1: A table specifying the base rate of fee per km for different types of vehicles for the base year 200708
Sarsam to Kothari section: The section of National Highway No.161A where the fee is applicable.
Maharashtra: The state where the specified section of National Highway No.161A is located.
Fee Plaza: Location where fees are collected for using the highway
Table2: Table describing location of fee plaza
Dudhgaon village, Taluka Kinwat, DistrictNanded: Location of the Fee Plaza
Table3: Table describing fee payable for the use of structures having length more than 60m
Rs.350: The rate of monthly pass for noncommercial vehicles registered within 20km of the fee plaza for the year 202526.
202526: The year for which the monthly pass rate of Rs.350 is applicable.
Table4: Table describing amount payable for multiple journeys
ROMUMP1135201617Toll E249336: File number related to the notification.
KAMLESH CHATURVEDI: The Joint Secretary who issued the notification.
Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi110064: Location where the document was printed.
Controller of Publications, Delhi110054: Publisher of the notification.
200708: The base year used for fee calculations in Table 1
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-03062025-263545
CG-DxLx-xEG-I0D3H0x6x2x0 25-263545
xxxGIDExxx
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण्ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 2327] नई दिल्ली, िुक्रवार, मई 30, 2025/ज्य ष्टे ि 9, 1947
No. 2327] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2025/JYAISTHA 9, 1947
सड़क पररवहन और रािमाग गमत्रं ालय
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 28 मई, 2025
का.आ. 2382(अ).— िबदक, केन्दर सरकार ने राष्ट्रीय रािमागग अजधजनयम, 1956 (1956 का 48) की धारा 5
के अधीन िारी की गई भारत सरकार के सड़क पररवहन और रािमागग मंत्रालय की अजधसचू ना सं. का. आ. 5420(अ),
दिनांदकत 13 दिसम्बर, 2024 के द्वारा महाराष्टर राज्य म ें राष्ट्रीय रािमाग ग सं. 161ए को महाराष्टर राज्य सरकार को सौंप
दिया ह;ै
अतअब :, राष्टरीय रािमागग फीस जनयमावली (िरों का जनधागरण और सग्रं हण), 2008(िो इसके आगे ’जनयम‘
के साथ परित राष्टरीय रािमागग अजधजनयम 3 के जनयम (के रूप में उजल्लजखत ह,ै 1956(48 का 1956) की धारा द्वारा 7
प्रित्त िजतयों का प्रयोग करत े हुए, केंरीय सरकार एतद्द्वारा महाराष्ट्र राज्य म ेंराष्ट्रीय रािमाग गसंख्या 161ए के सरसाम स े
33 कोिारी खंड के जडिाइन चैनेि दकमी.90 स ेदकमी 000. तक पेव्ड िोल्डर सजहत िो लने के खडं के उपयोग के जलए 000
49.दकमी की जनवल स 343ड़क खंड लंबाई 2 सारणी[[ और 2.) दकमी 070.207 दकमी की लंबाई, ताजलका-3की (
के (मीटर से अजधक 60 लंबाई) समतुल्य संरचना लंबाईजलए नीचे िी गई ताजलका ) के कॉलम 11) में जवजनर्िगष्टट वाहनों के
प्रकार पर ताजलका ) के कॉलम 1260 म ें जवजनर्िगष्टट आधार िर के (% पर फीस उिगृहीत करती ह ै तथा भारतीय राष्टरीय
रािमागग प्राजधकरण को उसके अजधकाररयों अथवा दकसी िेकेिार के माध्यम से उत फीस के सग्रं हण के जलए प्राजधकृत
करती ह ै,अथागत: ् —
3518 GI/2025 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
ताजलका-।
वाहन का प्रकार आधार वर् ग 2007-08 के जलए
प्रजत दकमी आधार फीस िर (रु. म)ें
(1) (2)
कार, िीप, वैन या हल्के मोटर वाहन 0.65
हल्के वाजणजज्यक वाहन, हल्के माल वाहन या जमनी बस 1.05
बस या रक (िो धुरी) 2.20
तीन धरु ी वाजणजज्यक वाहन 2.40
भारी जनमागण मिीनरी (एचसीएम) या अथग मूववगं उपस्ट्कर (ईएमई) या बहु धुरीय 3.45
वाहन (एमएवी) (चार स ेछ: धरु ी)
जविाल आकार के वाहन (सात या अजधक धरु ी) 4.20
1. इसके अतं गगत उिगृहीत और सगं ृहीत फीस ऐस े पथकर प्लािाओं के अंतगगत जवजनर्िगष्टट जनवल सड़क लंबाई (िरू ी)
हते ु जनम्नजलजखत पथकर प्ल ािाओं में िेय और संिेय होगी: —
ताजलका-2
पथकर प्ल ािा (चनै िे ) की लबं ाई (दकमी म)ें जिसके जलए फीस िर, जिस पर फीस सिं ेय ह ै।
अवजस्ट्थ जत सिं ेय ह ै
महाराष्ट्र राज्य में िधु गांव गांव, 49.343 दकमी पेव्ड िोल्डर सजहत िो लेन के जलए ऊपर
तालुका- दकनवट, जिला-नांिेड़ ताजलका-1 म ें उजल्ल जखत आधार िरों का
जडजाइन चैनेि दकमी 88+200 पर 60%
[संरचनाओं की लंबाई को छोड़कर
(>60 मीटर)[
2. उपयुगत के अजतररत, जनम्नजलजखत टोल प्लािा (प्लािाओं) पर 60 मीटर स े अजधक लंबाई वाली जनम्नजलजखत
अवसंरचनाओं के उपयोग के जलए 10 के समतल्ु य गुणक द्वारा ऐसी अवसंरचनाओं की लंबाई को गणु ा करके रािमाग ग की
समतुल्य लंबाई म ेंअवसंरचनाओं की लंबाई को पररवर्तगत करके जनम्नजलजखत फीस भी िये और संिेय होगी: —
ताजलका-3
पथकर प्ल ािा की अवजस्ट्थ जत समतल्ु य सड़क लबं ाई म ें पररवर्ततग समतल्ु य सड़क िर, जिस पर फीस सिं ेय ह ै
(चनै िे ) दकए िान े के जलए अवसरं चनाओं की लबं ाई (दकमी म)ें
लबं ाई (दकमी म)ें
महाराष्ट्र राज्य में जडजाइन 0.207 दकमी^ 2.07 दकमी पेव्ड िोल्डर सजहत िो लेन
चैनेि दकमी 88+200, िधु गावं के जलए ऊपर ताजलका-1 म ें
गांव, तालुका- दकनवट, जिला- उजल्लजखत आधार िरों का
नांिेड़ पर। 60%
^ब्यौरा जनम्नानुसार ह:ैं -
क्र. स.ं जडिाइन दकमी स े जडिाइन दकमी तक सरं चना का प्रकार लबं ाई (दकमी म)ें
1 बड़ा पुल 0.063
83+140 83+203
2 आरओबी 0.072
55+040 55+112
3 33+210 33+282 आरओबी 0.072
कुल लबं ाई 0.207 दकमी[भाग II—खण्ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
3. गरै -वाजणजज्यक प्रयोिनों के जलए पंिीकृत यांजत्रक वाहन के स्ट्वामी और पथकर प्ल ािा से बीस दकमी की िरू ी के
भीतर जनवास करन े वाल े व्यजत के जलए माजसक पास की िर वर् ग 2025-26 के जलए 350.00 रु. (तीन सौ पचास रुपए
मात्र) ह ैऔर उत जनयमों के प्रावधानों के अनुसार प्रजतवर् ग संिोधन के अध्यधीन ह।ै
4. रािमागग खंड पर बहुल यात्राओं के जलए जनम्नजलजखत िरों पर पास िारी दकए िाएंगे, अथागत ्: —
ताजलका-4
भगु तान-योग्य धनराजि अनमु त एकतरफा यात्राओं की वधै ता की अवजध
अजधकतम सख्ं य ा
एकतरफा यात्रा के जलए फीस का डेढ़ िो भुगतान के समय से चौबीस घंटे
गुना
पचास एकल यात्राओं के जलए पचास भुगतान की तारीख से एक माह
भुगतान-योग्य फीस की राजि का िो-
जतहाई
5. फीस प्लािा जस्ट्थत होने वाल े जिले म ें पंिीकृत वाजणजज्यक वाहनों (राष्टरीय परजमट के अधीन प्रचाजलत दकए िा
रह े वाहनों को छोड़कर) के जलए फीस उस श्रेणी के वाहन हेतु जनधागररत िर की 50% होगी, बिते दक ऐसे वाजणजज्यक
वाहनों के प्रयोग के जलए कोई सर्वगस रोड या वैकजल्पक सड़क उपलब्ध न हों।
6. संबंजधत श्रेणी के वाहनों के जलए जवजनर्िगष्टट अनुज्ञेय भार स े अजधक भार लिे यांजत्रक वाहन का चालक या स्ट्वामी
या प्रभारी व्यजत , राष्ट्रीय रािमागग पर अजतभार लि े वाहन के प्रवेि के जलए टोल संग्रहण एिेंसी को ऐसी श्रणे ी के वाहनों
के प्रवेि जलए, उत जनयमों के जनयम 10 के उप-जनयम 1ए के अनुसार जवजनर्िगष्टट फीस के समतुल्य फीस का भगु तान करन े
के जलए उत्तरिायी होगा और वह रािमाग ग खंड का प्रयोग करन े के जलए तब तक हकिार नहीं होगा िब तक ऐस े यांजत्रक
वाहन से लिा अजतभार हटाया नहीं िाता।
7. सभी पररभार्ाएं, यांजत्रक वाहनों की श्रेणी, इनके अनुज्ञेय भार, छूट प्राप्त वाहनों की श्रेणी, सर्वगस रोड, वैकजल्पक
सड़क इत्यादि पूवोत जनयमों में जवजनर्िगष्टट पररभार्ाओं के अनुरूप होंगी।
8. फीस की िरें उक्त जनयमों के जनयम 12 के अनुसरण म ेंप्रयोताओं के सूचनाथग प्रिर्िगत करनी होंगी।
9. यांजत्रक वाहनों से फीस की वास्ट्तजवक राजि उपयुगत ताजलका-1 में यथा-उजल्ल जखत आधार वर्ग 2007-08 के
जलए प्रजत दकमी फीस की आधार िर के आधार पर प्रभाररत होगी और छूटों की गणना भारतीय राष्ट्रीय रािमाग ग
प्राजधकरण द्वारा खंड की परू ी हो गई लंबाई के आधार पर की िाएगी और उसे उत जनयमों के जनयम 5 के अनुसार प्रजत
वर्ग संिोजधत दकया िाएगा तथा तिनुसार उसे अग्रं ेिी और क्षेत्रीय भार्ा के कम से कम एक-एक समाचार पत्र में प्रकाजित
दकया िाएगा।
10. इस पररयोिना की प्राकजलत पूंिीगत लागत 545.64 करोड़ रु. ह।ै [भूजम अजधग्रहण, िनोपयोगी सुजवधाओं के
स्ट्थानांतरण, पड़े ों को काटने, आदि कायगकलापों को अभी परू ा दकया िाना ह ै इसजलए, पूंिीगत लागत पररवतगन के
अध्यधीन ह।ै ] प्राप्त प्रयोता फीस के माध्यम से वसूल की गई पूंिीगत लागत का भारतीय राष्ट्रीय रािमाग ग प्राजधकरण
द्वारा ररकाडग रखा िाएगा।
[फा. सं. आरओ/एमयूएम/पी-1135/2016-17/टोल/ई-249336]
कमलेि चतुवेिी, संयुत सजचव4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 28th May, 2025
S.O. 2382(E).—Whereas by notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Road Transport and
Highways S.O. 5420(E) dated 13th December 2024, issued under section 5 of the National Highways Act, 1956 (48 of
1956), the Central Government has entrusted the stretch of National Highway no.161A in the state of Maharashtra to
the State Government of Maharashtra;
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 at sixty percent of the rate specified in column (2) of the
Table-1 for net road section length of 49.343 km [Table 2] and for equivalent structure length (having length more than
60m) of 2.07 km (having length of 0.207 km , Table 3) on the type of vehicles specified in column (1) of Table 1 below
for the use of two lane with paved shoulder section of Sarsam to Kothari section from design chainage from km 33.000
to km 90.000 of National Highway No.161A in the state of Maharashtra and authorizes the National Highways
Authority of India to collect, either through its officials or through a contractor, the said fee, namely : —
Table-1
Type of vehicle Base rate of fee per km for the base 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 3.45
Equipment (EME) or 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(s) namely: —
Table-2
Location of Fee Plaza (chainage) Length (in km) for Rate at which fee is payable
which Fee is payable
At design chainage Km 88+200 Dudhgaon village, 49.343 Km 60% for two lane with paved shoulders,
Taluka- Kinwat, District-Nanded in the State of of the base rates mentioned in Table-1
[Excluding length of
Maharashtra. above.
structures (>60m)]
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(s), 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 payable
km) to be converted into length (in km)
equivalent road length[भाग II—खण्ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 5
At design chainage Km 88+200 60% for two lane with paved
Dudhgaon village, Taluka- Kinwat, 0.207 km 2.07 km shoulders, of the base rates
District-Nanded in the State of mentioned in Table-1 above.
Maharashtra.
^The details are as under:
Sr.No. From design km To design km Type of structure Length (in km)
1 83+140 83+203 Major bridge 0.063
2 55+040 55+112 ROB 0.072
3 33+210 33+282 ROB 0.072
Total length 0.207 km
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 kilometres from the fee plaza is Rs.350/- (Rupees Three Hundred and Fifty
only) for the year 2025-26 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
Amount Payable Maximum number of one way Period of validity
journeys allowed
One and one-half times of the fee for one way Two Twenty four hours from the time of
journey payment
Two-third of amount of the fee payable for Fifty One month from date of payment
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.
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 National
Highways Authority of India 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 545.64 crore. [The capital cost is subject to variation as the
activities of land acquisition, utility shifting, tree cutting, etc.are yet to be completed. The National Highways
Authority of India shall maintain a record of the recovery of capital cost through user fee realized.
[F. No. RO/MUM/P-1135/2016-17/Toll /E-249336]
KAMLESH CHATURVEDI, 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.