Soon toll can be collected on National Highways based on the weight of the vehicle, know the plan of MoRTH

Highlighting the problem of overloaded vehicles on National Highways, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has been asked to consider the option of collecting toll based on the weight of vehicles instead of axle-based fee collection. A parliamentary standing committee headed by Rajya Sabha member V Vijayasai Reddy has recommended that the implementation of the weigh-in-motion system for issuing automatic challans/fines will eliminate the possible nexus of corrupt officials with heavy vehicle owners. This will also help in reducing the problem of overloading.

"The Committee recommends that the Ministry explore the possibilities of improving the provisions for collecting toll based on the weight of vehicles instead of axle-based toll collection," the committee said. The ministry, in its reply, said it had taken note of the recommendation.

The committee also "strongly recommended" that the ministry take immediate measures to reduce the problem of overloaded vehicles on national highways. The ministry was also asked to repair weighing equipment that had been defunct for a long time.

The report presented last week said that "heavier fines should be imposed on vehicles not adhering to the prescribed limits."

MoRTH was also asked to coordinate with line ministries and state departments. So that apart from the truck owners, the provision of penalty can also be imposed on the consignor and the consignee.

The Committee further said, "The Committee feels that doing so will prevent overloading at source and prevent damage to the National Highways and will also improve road safety."

The ministry told the committee that as per the National Highway Tariff Rules, 2008, a mechanical vehicle which is loaded more than the maximum gross weight prescribed in the rules is not allowed to use the national highway or cross the toll plaza unless That extra load is not removed.

To prevent overloading on national highways, the rules also have a provision for penalty for overloaded vehicles. The ministry also said that overloaded vehicles will have to pay the applicable charges of the next higher category.

In 2013, MoRTH amended the rule and the fee for overloading was increased to 10 times the applicable fee. The rules were changed again in 2018. At present, at publicly funded toll plazas, overload tariff is charged as per the 2018 order.

The ministry also said that for Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) concession agreements, the penalty on overloaded vehicles is being levied by the concessionaire as per the provisions given in their respective agreements.

"Generally, for any overloaded vehicle, the user charge charged is equal to the user charge prescribed for the next higher category of vehicle," the ministry said.

Overloaded vehicles and those with loads protruding or hanging are a traffic hazard. Which increases the risk of accidents for themselves and other road users. During 2022, overloaded vehicles accounted for 6.1 percent of total accidents, 7.2 percent of total fatalities and 6.5 percent of total injuries.