Chennai: Toll charges at several toll plazas in Tamil Nadu have been increased again, with hikes ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 30 depending on the vehicle category, officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said.
Tamil Nadu has about 7,000 km of national highways and 80 toll plazas. Of these, toll revisions are typically carried out from April 1 at 66 plazas, while the remaining plazas see revisions from September 1.
This year, the April revision was implemented from May 23 due to the Assembly elections. Now, updated rates have been brought into effect at more than 10 toll plazas, including Paranur near Chengalpattu.
NHAI officials said the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had reduced the wholesale price index (WPI)-linked component used for toll calculations last year. In a related case, the court directed that the earlier WPI-based calculation be restored, following which the ministry issued a circular on June 29 reintroducing the previous method.
As a result, the one-time toll reduction granted last year has been withdrawn and tolls have gone up again at multiple national highway plazas. This is the second increase after May, and will be implemented in phases across all toll plazas. The monthly pass for private vehicle owners living within a 20-km radius of a toll plaza has also been raised from Rs 350 to Rs 360.
