Mumbai, Sept. 2 -- The National Highways Authority of India approved an increase in tolls at the Paliyekkara toll plaza after Guruvayur Infrastructure Company raised fares on Sunday. The authority authorised the revised schedule for passenger and commercial vehicles on the stretch operated by the company. The decision follows the operator's application for adjustments tied to the basic toll rate and inflation measures, and the change will affect daily commuters and commercial operators who use the route regularly.
Under the new one-way rates a car will be charged Rs 100, a small commercial vehicle Rs 170 and a bus Rs 345. The operator indicated that the hike for cars and light commercial vehicles amounts to Rs 10 while buses and trucks see an increase of Rs 25. Multi-axle vehicles will pay Rs 550 for a one-way journey, reflecting an increase of Rs 35 over prior charges.
For two-way journeys the revised tariff for a car is Rs 145, up from Rs 140, while a light commercial vehicle will be charged Rs 255, up from Rs 240. A bus or truck will attract Rs 515 under the two-way tariff, compared with Rs 450 previously. The two-way charge for multi-axle vehicles will be Rs 825, revised from Rs 775.
A court order issued last year had directed that fares should not be raised without measures to ease traffic congestion and authorities indicated that the directive will be implemented in accordance with judicial instructions. Officials said the fare revision is scheduled to be applied in September using the basic toll rate and the national wholesale price index as the basis for adjustment. Collections are, however, being made at the 2024 rates until the new schedule takes effect. The revision process will follow established administrative procedures before new collections commence.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.