Highway toll collection dips up to 30% over past week

Toll collections in the country have declined by up to 30% in the past one week after Covid-induced lockdowns curbed traffic flow. Toll collections began getting affected earlier this month as several states announced restrictions on activities amid the second wave of Covid-19. According to an official, the fall in collections ranges between 20% to 30%. The average daily collection at toll plazas managed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is Rs 92-95 crore. Another official told a prominent media source that the collections continue to dip further this week. The average daily collection on national highways witnessed a surge following the shift to electronic toll collection this year. India is facing a ravaging second wave of Covid-19, which has overburdened the healthcare system. The official said on the back of 95% toll being collected through FASTags, collections remained robust till March but saw a marginal decrease in April due to lockdowns. During last year’s nationwide lockdown, toll collection came to a pause for 21 days, costing NHAI Rs 1,100 crore, according to ratings agency Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency (ICRA). Toll collections saw an improvement and touched 114% of normal levels in November. Currently, over a dozen states and union territories are under partial or complete lockdown. Image Source Also read: NHAI: No toll fee for tankers carrying oxygen Also read: NHAI looks to monetise 7,500 km roads