Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India Nitin Gadkari told Rajya Sabha that he was the ‘'father of toll tax in India’. He made the remark on Wednesday while responding to supplementary queries in Question Hour where members expressed concerns over the setting up of toll plazas on expressways that are inside the city limits.
What led to the remark?
The Union minister, who is often praised for the performance of his ministry, assured the members that the issue that leads to the local population paying toll tax even when commuting within the city will be rectified and claimed the problem had arisen under the UPA rule.
ALSO READ: Equilibrium between environment and economic growth necessary, says Union Minister Nitin Gadkari
He said before 2014, under the UPA government, tolls were introduced near the city area, and everyone had to pay. "This is very unfortunate and unlawful," he said, as per an NDTV report.
Here is why Nitin Gadkari thinks he is the father of expressway toll in the country
The Union Minister added that "fortunately or unfortunately, I am the father of this toll since I created the toll system for the first time in this country, and the first BOT (build-operate-transfer) project was Thane in Maharashtra.”
The first-of-its-kind Mumbai-Pune Expressway BOT (build-operate-transfer) project was undertaken during Gadkari's tenure as PWD minister in the Maharashtra government between 1995 and 1999.
People in the city often use only 10 km of the expressway road that falls within the city, but they are made to pay the toll for the entire 75 km.
Gadkari remarked that this is wrong, and he will rectify this. He assured that this problem will be solved and said the new system which is going to be launched will see that the city area is eliminated and so that there will be no charge on the people who use the expressway within the city limits.
ALSO READ: Nitin Gadkari says alternative fuel is the future, will soon have electric tractors and trucks
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
Check out our in-depth Market Coverage, Business News & get real-time Stock Market Updates on CNBC-TV18. Also, Watch our channels CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz and CNBC Bajar Live on-the-go!
Lok Sabha Election 2024: What rural Delhi wants
May 16, 2024 10:10 PM
Over 50 onion farmers detained in Nashik ahead of PM Modi's visit
May 16, 2024 11:14 AM
Why Google CEO is cautiously optimistic about the election year
May 16, 2024 9:51 AM
Mark Mobius reveals how markets will react if NDA wins 400+ Lok Sabha seats
May 15, 2024 8:09 PM