Karnataka collects ₹11,112 crore through FASTag in three years

Karnataka has collected implicit ₹11,000 crore successful toll gross done FASTag transactions unsocial successful the past 3 fiscal years, showing the accelerated displacement to physics tolling connected National Highways successful the State.

According to information by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, ₹3,049.09 crore was collected done FASTag successful 2022-23. The fig accrued to ₹3,839.14 crore successful 2023-24, and roseate further to ₹4,224.08 crore successful 2024-25. The cumulative postulation during the three-year play stands astatine ₹11,112.31 crore.

Replying to an unstarred question by MP G. C. Chandrashekhar successful the Rajya Sabha connected February 11, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said that Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) present accounts for much than 98% of idiosyncratic interest postulation crossed the country, including Karnataka. The information indicates near-universal adoption of FASTag astatine toll plazas, importantly reducing dependence connected currency transactions.

The Minister explained that FASTag transactions are processed wrong a secured ecosystem involving the Toll Management System Software astatine plazas, the acquirer bank, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) arsenic the Central Clearing House, and the FASTag issuer bank. No transaction tin beryllium completed without the information of each 3 stakeholders. Each toll deduction is communicated to the idiosyncratic and recorded successful a cardinal repository, ensuring transparency and accountability successful toll operations.

Mr Gadkari stated that to curb toll evasion and forestall gross leakage, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) connected January 25, 2024. The SOP mandates astonishment checks astatine toll plazas and regular monitoring to guarantee that each currency and FASTag transactions are processed strictly done the Toll Management System Software, thereby minimising the scope for manual involution and discrepancies.

Toll revisions

On toll revisions, Mr. Gadkari clarified that idiosyncratic fees are collected nether the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. Rates astatine publically funded toll plazas are revised annually based connected changes successful the Wholesale Price Index (WPI). In contrast, toll plazas operated by concessionaires revise rates successful accordance with the presumption specified successful their concession agreements.

The Minister added that toll rates whitethorn besides summation erstwhile the tolling magnitude nether a interest plaza is expanded. Charges alteration according to conveyance category, with cars, jeeps and vans paying the lowest rates, portion multi-axle dense vehicles are charged higher fees successful proportionality to roadworthy usage, and the deterioration and teardrop they cause.