The Punjab Government on Wednesday approved a revised toll policy, aiming to rationalise toll rates including reduction in minimum toll charges and annual hike.
The nod to revised toll policy was given by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday aiming at rationalisation in the toll rates besides enhancing the user acceptability in the State.
As per the revised toll policy, minimum road toll charges have been cut down from Rs 31 at present, to Rs 15.
likewise, toll rates for structures including flyovers or RoBs would be now be linked with the cost of the structure, instead of its length, which would help in reducing toll rates.
He further said that only 40 per cent of the wholesale price index (WPI) would be taken into consideration for the annual revision of toll rates. Moreover, there would be a three per cent annual increase in rates as against 10 per cent, in earlier policy.
It was approved that toll slips would remain valid for 24 hours from the time of issuance. For frequent commuters, the new policy said, 25 per cent discount would be given instead of the present discount of 20 per cent. The validity for the monthly pass would also consider valid for 30 days from the date of issuance.
The earlier state’s Toll Policy was notified in 2004-05, under which nine BOT (Built operate and Transfer) and two O&M (operation and maintenance) road projects and one O&M high level bridge had been completed and made operational through PIDB.