Panel recommends MoRTH to increase toll rates

Reportedly, a parliamentary panel has recommended that the MoRTH should take measures such as hiking toll rates across the country and postponing certain projects to avoid NHAI getting into a debt trap. Pointing out that NHAI‘s present financial health is not sustainable in the long run and could create bigger issues in road infrastructure in the future, the parliamentaty standing committee on the MoRTH has observed that the amount of debt NHAI has to repay is more than twice the ministry’s present annual budgetary allocation. However, NHAI and the MoRTH have maintained that the issue of increasing debt is being blown out of proportion as the authority has been raising funds after government authorisation. Besides, the panel has raised serious concerns about delays in completion of highway projects and inadequate allocation of funds for maintenance of highways. The panel has also recommended setting up of a Special Delay Mitigation Cell to figure out solutions for delays. The panel also recommended increased focus on the quality of roads.