Be ready to pay extra at toll booths on national highways from April 1

Increasing fuel prices has compelled the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to increase toll tax on highways anywhere between ₹5 and ₹65, starting April 1.

The hike for the period 2022-23 will vary depending on the type of vehicle. The toll rate has been increased depending on the wholesale price index in accordance with the provisions of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.  The new rates will be applicable for single and double trips as well as monthly passes from March 31 midnight.

In Delhi, the toll for cars and jeeps plying on highways has been increased by ₹10 flat. Oversize vehicle owners will bear the maximum brunt with one-way toll hiked by ₹65.

In Andhra Pradesh, the toll for cars and jeeps will increase by Rs 5 to Rs 10; buses and lorries will be required to pay Rs 15 to Rs 25 more and heavy vehicles will have to pay Rs 40 to Rs 50 extra.

In Chennai, car owners will have to shell out ₹5 to ₹10 more for one-way trips. So the toll during travel from Chennai to Madurai will now cost about ₹ 700 instead of ₹600. Truck owners will have to pay ₹20 extra at each toll booth.

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Fuel prices were increased on Tuesday (March 29) for the seventh time in the last eight days. In Delhi, petrol rates were hiked by 80 paise a litre to cross the Rs 100 mark and diesel by 70 paise a litre. In Delhi, petrol and diesel are being sold at ₹101.81 per litre and ₹93.07 per litre respectively. In Mumbai, which has the costliest fuel among metro cities, petrol and diesel prices per litre are at ₹116.72 and ₹100.94 after an 84-paisa hike. In Chennai, the prie of petrol is ₹107.45 and diesel price is ₹97.52. In Kolkata, the petrol price is ₹111.35 per litre and diesel is ₹96.22 per litre.

Since diesel powers the logistics and transportation sector, the hike will definitely affect household expenses and may stoke sharp rise in inflation. The Ukraine-Russia conflict and its impact on global crude prices is cited as one of the prime reasons for fuel hike this time. Brent Crude prices are currently hovering above the psychologically important $110/bbl mark.