Road travel expenses to increase as toll fees surge by month-end

Travelling to or from Chennai by road would become more expensive by the end of the month. This is because the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) planned to increase user fees at four toll plazas on the outskirts of the city. The increase was said to range from 5 to 20 per trip. Additionally, it was mentioned that the cost of travelling to Bengaluru and the southern districts of Tamil Nadu would see an increase of up to 150 from April 1 due to rate hikes at several toll plazas situated on major national highway routes throughout Tamil Nadu. The adjustment in fees was said to come amid promises made by the DMK in the Lok Sabha election manifesto to eliminate all toll plazas if the INDIA bloc formed a government at the Centre. The Union road transport ministry had reportedly made two key announcements regarding this issue. Firstly, toll charges would now be based on the distance a vehicle travelled, determined using GPS technology. Secondly, fees would be reduced by 40% at toll plazas where the initial capital investment had been fully recouped. According to the ministry?s statement, NHAI Chennai Region was expected to lower fees first at the Parandur toll plaza in Chengalpet, as the capital costs for these sites, established in 2005, had long been recovered, as per S Yuvraj of the TN lorry owners association. Yuvraj criticiSed NHAI, stating that despite collecting substantial revenues, only a small portion had been allocated to maintain highway stretches. He highlighted the poor condition of the Sriperumbudur-Kancheepuram section of the Chennai-Bengaluru highway, which had been plagued by potholes and craters for several months. He noted that while the road should ideally have been expanded to eight lanes by now, only six-lane expansion efforts were currently underway.