Whalesbook
Tolling has officially started at the Bijwasan toll plaza on the Dwarka Expressway, a move that caught many commuters off guard on Sunday morning, leading to immediate traffic congestion.
In response to the unexpected inconvenience, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced a temporary measure to ease the transition for local users. For the next three days, three lanes on each side of the Bijwasan plaza will remain toll-free.
This period is designated for residents living within a 20-kilometer radius of the toll plaza to acquire a 'local monthly pass'. This pass allows for 50 trips in a month for a fee of Rs 340. NHAI is setting up multiple camps to facilitate the issuance of these passes.
Many users expressed dissatisfaction, citing a lack of prior notification, which prevented them from obtaining the necessary passes or FASTag annual passes. They feel the government should have anticipated the issues associated with the first-time toll collection on this corridor.
The notified toll rates for a car at Bijwasan plaza are approximately Rs 220 for a one-way trip and Rs 330 for a return journey within 24 hours. These rates are significantly higher than those at the Kherki Daula plaza (Rs 95 one-way, Rs 145 return).
The policy states that the first plaza crossed dictates the initial toll payment. If Bijwasan is crossed first, its fee applies, and no additional toll is charged at Kherki Daula. If Kherki Daula is crossed first, its fee is paid, followed by the differential amount at Bijwasan.
Impact:
This move is expected to generate revenue for NHAI, contributing to the maintenance and further development of the expressway. However, it highlights potential issues in public communication and implementation of tolling systems, which could affect user experience and traffic flow if not managed efficiently.
Impact Rating: 6/10
Difficult Terms:
Dwarka Expressway: A 29-kilometer-long, 8-lane under-construction expressway in India, connecting Dwarka in Delhi to Kherki Daula in Gurugram, Haryana.
Bijwasan Plaza: A specific toll collection point located on the Dwarka Expressway.
User Fee: Another term for toll tax, the amount charged for using a public road or bridge.
Local Monthly Pass: A permit for local residents living near a toll plaza allowing them to travel a set number of times within a month at a concessional rate.
FASTag: An electronic toll collection system in India, using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to read tag ID and toll information.
Differential Amount: The difference in toll charges between two toll plazas, applicable when a user travels between them in a specific direction.