Toll Collections, Goods Loading Up In June

The daily toll collection through FASTags touched an all-time high of Rs 143 crore per day in June, while the Railways said it also recorded the best-ever freight loading in the same month.

The total freight loading last month was 125 million tonnes (MT), according to the Railway Ministry.

Officials said an increase in toll collection and freight loading are indicators of high economic activities in the country.

According to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) data, the previous best in toll collection was in May at Rs 141 crore per day. The Railways said the cumulative freight loading in the first quarter of the year — April to June — has been 379.4 MT, as against 339.3 MT achieved in 2021-22, logging a growth of 12 per cent.

Going by the trend, the freight movement by road and rail is expected to continue and that’s a good sign for the economy that’s reviving very fast, according to the Railways.

Meanwhile, the Road Transport Ministry has notified the norms for the rollout of ‘closed tolling’ system, which means commuters will pay for the kilometres travelled on National Highways rather than for the entire stretch between two toll plazas.

Currently, closed tolling is being implemented on only a couple of expressways. This would also address the concerns of local commuters who complain against paying toll for the entire stretch even as they travel only a few kilometres. Currently, monthly passes are issued for such commuters. But with closed tolling, there will be no such issue.