BS EDIT: Value for Money

By Business StandardPublished On Nov 12, 2025

Time for a Rethink

Seventeen years on, India is set to revisit how highway tolls are fixed, reassessing costs, damage factors, and users’ willingness to pay

Outdated Rules, New Roads

The 2008 toll framework no longer fits today’s expanded, upgraded highway network, where vehicle technology and road standards have evolved

Rising Revenues, Uneven Roads

Toll collections rose 16% this year to ₹49,193 crore, yet road quality and consistency vary widely — a gap that erodes public confidence

Monetisation Momentum

Through ToT and InvIT models, NHAI has monetised over ₹1.4 trillion in assets, meeting 71% of its target under the National Monetisation Pipeline

Linking Price to Performance

A new framework must tie tolls to measurable indicators like surface quality, congestion, and safety — rewarding efficiency and accountability

Beyond Revenue, Toward Trust

India’s toll policy should evolve from fee collection to fairness — ensuring every rupee paid reflects road performance and public value