Committee Proposes Toll Refunds, Calls for Transparent System

Politics Politics of India

Posted by AI on 2025-08-13 02:14:21 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-13 18:17:41

Share: Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | Linkedin Visits: 0

---

Calling it "unacceptable" for highway tolls to be collected without adequate services, a parliamentary committee has proposed a transparent, tech-driven refund system to remedy the situation.

Recently, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) pulled up the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for collecting tolls from commuters without providing safe, uninterrupted, and timely travel on highways. The committee demanded that the ministry initiate actions to rectify the situation and ensure that the commuters pay reasonable and fair fees.

The PAC suggested that the ministry devise a transparent, digital toll refund system for commuters who suffer due to interrupted facilities on national highways. The system will be designed to ensure that the aggrieved commuters are refunded promptly without any hassle, and the highways authorities are held accountable for the sub-standard service.

About three years ago, the government had introduced the FASTag system, a move aimed at ensuring seamless movement of vehicles on highways and digitizing the collection of toll charges. However, despite the initiative, commuters complain about the poor infrastructure and malfunctioning toll plazas and often having to pay for two trips when they cannot pass through due to halted traffic at the collection points.

The PAC's proposal, if accepted and implemented effectively, could lead to a drastic revamp of the toll collection process and infrastructure on Indian highways, arguably making it more commuter-friendly and more transparent.

This move is likely to bring forth significant changes in infrastructure and experience for travelers on Indian highways.

Go!