Official data analyzed by News18 shows that a total of 983 user toll plazas (formerly known as toll plazas) are operational on India's roads across the country, of which at least 457 were built in the past five years.
Analysis shows that among all functional plazas across the country, at least five toll plazas had an average daily revenue of more than Rs 10 million in the last financial year. These toll plazas are located in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the toll collection at Bharthana toll plaza in Gujarat was the highest in the financial year 2023-24 at Rs 472.65 crore. The same square has also seen record annual tolls for the past five financial years. During the five-year period from 2019-20 to 2023-24, the square has raised Rs 2,043.8 crore. The total toll collected includes electronic tolls (ETC) and cash payments.
Shahjahanpur Plaza in Rajasthan collected Rs 1,884.45 crore in five years, ranking second among the 983 functional plazas. In 2023-24, it raised Rs 4,296.5 crore, also the second highest.
Last fiscal, Haryana's Galunda toll stood at third place with Rs 400.26 crore, followed by West Bengal's Jaladhur Goli (Rs 364.23 crore) and Uttar Pradesh's Barra Hall (Rs 364.69 crore).
A total of tolls worth Rs 194 crore were collected across the country between 2019-20 and 2023-24. Among states, Uttar Pradesh has the highest contribution from toll plazas (Rs 23,736.45 crore). Interestingly, the highest number of toll plazas in the country is in Rajasthan with 142, while Uttar Pradesh ranks second with 102 toll plazas.
Rajasthan's toll plazas ranked second with a toll collection of Rs 21,887.88 crore. Maharashtra follows closely behind, raising Rs 18,703.39 crore in the last five financial years.
It is important to note that all National Highway Toll Plazas operate in accordance with applicable National Highway Tolling Rules/Concession Agreements.
The five toll plazas in Gujarat – Bharthana, Vasad, Boriach, Samakhiyali and Choryasi – collected a total toll of Rs 6,254.24 crore, accounting for nearly 35 per cent of the tolls on the national highways in Gujarat (Rs 18,442.5 crore).
In the last five financial years, 457 toll plazas were constructed on national highways, of which 107 will be constructed in 2022-23 alone. At least 58 more people were reported in Rajasthan and 57 more in Madhya Pradesh. In Uttar Pradesh, 52 new toll plazas were constructed between 2019-20 and 2023-24.
Data from the ministry also shows that as of June 30, a total of 983 user pay plazas were put into use on highways across India. Of the 983 plazas, 649 are publicly funded and 334 are public-private participation. In the case of public funding/annuities, the government engages contractors through competitive electronic bidding to collect user fees. In private investments, the concessionaire collects royalties.
In India, tolls generally operate on an open system, whereby a fixed amount is paid based on the length of a project's segment (usually 60 km). If the road section is shorter, only the actual length will be charged.
The user charges for a specific toll plaza are based on the length of the extension under the plaza, the width of the buildings (bridges, tunnels, bypasses) and highways, the applicable tolling rules and the provisions of the concession agreement.
Vehicle classification is for the benefit of road users. This classification is primarily based on the size and load of the vehicle, the damage caused to the road, and the type of use of the vehicle (commercial/personnel).
