The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has raised the monthly pass fee for residents living within 20 km of toll plazas across Tamil Nadu by Rs 10, marking the third increase since April. The first revision of Rs 10 took effect on April 1, raising the monthly pass from Rs 330 to Rs 340, a second Rs 10 hike followed on May 23 and the latest notification increases the fee to Rs 360 with effect from Saturday. The cumulative rise since April 1 therefore totals Rs 30 and the change has been applied at most toll plazas in the state.

Sources said the revision applies at plazas including Nallur on the Chennai-Kolkata National Highway, Kothatai on the Poondiyankuppam-Sattanathapuram section, Seliyamedu on the Puducherry-Poondiyankuppam section, Gangarampalayam on the Villupuram-Puducherry section and Morattandi on the Puducherry-Tindivanam stretch. Officials indicated the update has been implemented at a majority of the state's 77 toll plazas and local operators have begun applying the revised monthly rates. Motorists who rely on monthly passes will be directly affected by the rise in local charges.

NHAI officials explained that toll rates are revised annually on the basis of the Wholesale Price Index provided by the government, in accordance with the National Highways (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. They said concession agreements link total payable amounts to these rates so movements in the index result in proportionate revisions and that for heavy vehicles the increase is generally around Rs 5. The officials emphasised that the annual WPI-based update has a greater impact on monthly passes issued to local residents than on single-trip tariffs.

Officials added that single-trip toll charges for cars, jeeps and other light vehicles remain unchanged while return-trip charges for these categories have risen by Rs 5 at several plazas. The latest revisions were carried out following directions from the Ministry of Finance and the policy of revising toll fees once a year under concession agreements remains in force. A resident from Red Hills said the cumulative Rs 30 increase since April will raise household expenditure on commuter passes by about Rs 300 a year and urged NHAI to reconsider the hike.