3,467 km highways incomplete, hence not under toll: NHAI

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) today said it has not been able to impose toll on nearly 3,500 km of four-lane highways as portions of those are yet to be completed.     

"As on March 31, 2009, a total road length of 11,037 km has been four laned. However, out of this, 3,476 km has been partially completed ... It is not possible to toll such incomplete roads," an NHAI official said.     

Responding to the criticism that the NHAI has failed to impose toll on vast stretches of highways, resulting in huge losses to the state exchequer, the Authority said, "For completion of tolling it is necessary that a full identified toll section is completed in all respects..."  

In a recent review of the highway projects, the Committee of Infrastructure (CoI), headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, pulled up the NHAI for failing to impose toll on about 40 per cent of the completed highway stretches.     

"Of 11,037 km completed, only 6,476 km (58.7 per cent) is tolled," said a CoI presentation made to the Planning Commission, underlining the need for addressing issues concerning loss of revenue.Going by the CoI account, completed highways of 4,561 km do not come under toll collection.