NHAI rubbishes toll on two-wheelers as 'fake news', clarifies 'no plans to levy charges'

Earlier during the week, many media houses reported that the government is considering to levy user fees on two-wheelers. Up till now, two-wheelers were exempted from paying the toll on national highways.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday clarified that there are no plans to impose a toll tax on two-wheelers.

His clarification comes after some media reports stated that the government was planning to levy user fees on two-wheelers.

Separately, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) also said, “Some sections of the media have reported that the Government of India plans to levy a user fee on two-wheelers. NHAI would like to clarify that no such proposal is under consideration. There are no plans to introduce toll charges for two-wheelers.”

Insisting that two-wheelers will continue to be exempt from toll tax, Gadkari said, “Some media houses are spreading misleading news about imposing toll tax on two-wheelers. No such decision is proposed. Complete exemption on toll for two-wheelers will continue.”

He added that road tax is already collected from two-wheeler owners at the time of purchase, which is why tolls are not charged from them on national highways.

Despite this, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh slammed the government for imposing a toll tax on two-wheelers for the 'first time' and 'choking the public with exorbitant toll prices'.

He wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "A blow to the poor-middle class by the Modi government, sacrificed for capitalist friends Despite lower crude oil prices in the international market compared to the UPA government over the past 11 years, the Modi government is charging excessive taxes on petrol-diesel, selling expensive fuel to the public. Heavy taxes are also collected in the name of road tax. It seems the government’s appetite is not satisfied even after choking the public with exorbitant toll prices, and now preparations are being made to impose a toll tax for the first time on two-wheelers used by the poor-middle class. Modi ji, on one hand, you reduce taxes for corporates, and on the other, you directly strike the poor-middle class—what message are you trying to convey?"

(With DHNS inputs)