Vijayawada. Vijayawada: With the completion of the seven-phase elections, the National Highways Authority of India has increased the fee charged at Toll Plaza by an average of 3 to 5 percent from midnight of June 3 across the country. There are 77 toll plazas in Andhra Pradesh and the fee is different at each plaza. Although the toll plaza fee is revised every year from April 1 to March 31, this time it has been changed in view of the elections. NHAI has put the fee hike on hold for two months. Now with the elections over, NHAI has announced a plan to revise the fee from June 3. NHAI says that the revision done every year is linked to the wholesale price index based on inflation. However, drivers are upset as they will have to pay extra to cross the plaza from Monday. This is likely to adversely affect the prices of essential commodities and other products as transporters will have to pay extra to transport goods from one place to another.
However, APSRTC will have to bear this additional cost. There is no provision for immediate change in bus fares. NHAI has given wide publicity on revised toll plaza charges through media for the benefit of commuters. For example, single trip charges of Mahasamudram toll plaza are as follows: Before the revision, it used to charge Rs 95 for car/jeep/van; and after the revision, it has become Rs 100.
Similarly, LCV-Rs 155 and Rs 160; bus/truck-Rs 325 and Rs 335; vehicles up to three axles-Rs 355 and Rs 365; four to six axles-Rs 515 and Rs 525; and those with seven or more axles-Rs 625 and Rs 640.
