'If the condition is so bad, why should people pay toll tax?'
The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has said that Rs 11,945 crore has been collected as toll tax from vehicles plying on the Jaipur-Delhi highway through National Highway 48. This has come to light in response to a parliamentary question asked by Hanuman Beniwal, lok sabha mp from Nagaur, Rajasthan.
Beniwal had asked whether the toll tax collected on the Delhi-Jaipur National Highway is much higher than the construction cost? He had also said that if this is so, then the ministry should provide details of the toll tax collected and the construction cost of that highway.
mp Hanuman Beniwal's question regarding toll tax
According to a report by the indian Express, mp Hanuman Beniwal had asked whether despite maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh having more national highways than rajasthan, toll tax collection in rajasthan is higher than in these two states and if so, what are the reasons for this? Does the government know that despite toll tax collection, many national highways in rajasthan are in poor condition, so what is the justification for collecting toll tax on such roads?
What was the central government's response?
Union Transport minister Nitin Gadkari replied, "The cost of the highway from gurgaon to Kotputli jaipur is Rs 6430 crore and till now Rs 9218.30 crore has been collected. The cost of the Delhi-Gurgaon highway is Rs 2489.45 crore while toll collection was Rs 2727.50 crore." The ministry also said that the construction cost includes maintenance and other long-term costs. However, it also said that the user fee collected from the start of toll collection till date is not waived and hence it cannot be compared with the construction cost.
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