In a bid to ensure accurate toll collection and enhance transparency across national highways, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Indian Highway Management Company Limited (IHMCL) have implemented a series of rigorous audits and advanced monitoring systems. These measures aim to prevent fraudulent practices and ensure adherence to the National Highways Fee Rule and Concession Agreement.
Comprehensive Audits for Accuracy
To ensure proper fee collection, NHAI has initiated multiple independent audits, including Internal Audit, Thematic Audit, and Forensic Audit. These audits are designed to meticulously review fee collection records, ensuring compliance with established rules and agreements.
Real-Time Monitoring with TMCC Portal
The Toll Management and Control Centre (TMCC) portal has been developed to address issues of fraudulent activities and improve transparency. This portal allows for real-time monitoring of transaction details at fee plazas, helping to identify discrepancies and continuously oversee lane operations. Additionally, nodal officers have been appointed to monitor lane-level operations, further enhancing the oversight mechanism.
Penalties for Overcharging
Under Rule 13 of the National Highways (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules 2008, authorized officers can assess and recover excess fees collected by executing authorities or concessionaires. A penalty of twenty-five percent of the excess fee collected is imposed, following a due process of hearing. In public-funded fee plazas, the Contract agreement’s Clause 18 allows for a penalty of fifty times the excess amount charged, enforceable for up to 30 days.
Pilot Projects and Future Implementation
The NHAI has conducted pilot studies on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) based user fee collection system on two highway stretches: the Bengaluru-Mysore section of NH-275 in Karnataka and the Panipat-Hisar section of NH-709 in Haryana. The GNSS-based Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) System is set to be implemented on selected sections of national highways as a pilot project, supplementing the existing FASTag system.
Maintenance and Upkeep of Highways
The maintenance of national highways, including bridges and structures, is managed through various contract modes. These include Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contracts, Design Build Finance Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) Contracts, Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) Contracts, and Toll Operate and Transfer (TOT) Agreements. Each contract type defines specific maintenance responsibilities during different periods, ensuring the infrastructure’s upkeep and longevity.
This comprehensive approach to toll collection and highway maintenance was detailed by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. The measures reflect the government’s commitment to enhancing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in managing the country’s vast network of national highways.
