NHAI Implements Annual Toll Hike on Dwarka Expressway, Affecting Daily Commuters
GURGAON: Commuting along the Dwarka Expressway is poised to become significantly more expensive starting April 1, following the National Highways Authority of India's (NHAI) revision of toll rates at the Bijwasan plaza. This adjustment, part of NHAI's annual toll rationalization exercise, aligns with changes in the central government's wholesale price index (WPI), typically resulting in incremental increases each year.
Detailed Toll Rate Increases Across Vehicle Categories
An NHAI official confirmed that the increase ranges from 2% to 5% across all vehicle categories. The impact is particularly severe for cab users, who lack access to monthly passes, forcing them to absorb the full brunt of the hike. For cabs, the single-journey toll has risen from Rs 355 to Rs 365, while the return fare increased from Rs 535 to Rs 550. The monthly pass for 50 trips has been revised upward from Rs 11,890 to Rs 12,195.
Private car owners face a 2.3% increase, with the single-trip toll moving from Rs 220 to Rs 225 and the return fare from Rs 330 to Rs 340. Their monthly pass for 50 trips now costs Rs 7,550, up from Rs 7,360. Additionally, the concessional monthly pass for residents within a 20-kilometer radius has been adjusted from Rs 340 to Rs 350.
Residents Voice Concerns Over Escalating Costs and Lack of Alternatives
Local residents have expressed frustration over the toll hike, noting that fares have already surged since toll collection began in November last year. Ranjan Jain, a resident of Chintels Serenity in Sector 109, highlighted the added burden on commuters, especially those reliant on taxis or cabs, including senior citizens, women, and students. "Cab fares have nearly doubled since the Bijwasan toll became operational," Jain stated. "Earlier, a ride from Sector 110 to Dwarka Sector 21 cost around Rs 250. Now it is Rs 550-600. It is often cheaper to take a longer route via Udyog Vihar just to avoid the toll."
Jain urged authorities to consider relief measures until public transport becomes available, emphasizing that monthly passes do not apply to taxis, leaving end-users to bear the entire cost.
Public Transport Absence Exacerbates Commuting Challenges
Yash Varmani, a resident of Godrej Meridien in Sector 106, pointed out the critical lack of public transport along the Dwarka Expressway. "Despite paying high taxes, residents still do not have access to public transport. In its absence, cabs or private vehicles become unavoidable, even though they are extremely expensive due to toll charges. This also adds to traffic and pollution," Varmani explained. He called for immediate government action to introduce bus services and metro connectivity, which have long been demanded by the community.
Wider Toll Revisions Across Other Vehicle Types and Plazas
The toll hike extends beyond cars and cabs to include other vehicle categories at the Bijwasan plaza:
- Buses and trucks: Single journey increased from Rs 745 to Rs 765; return charges up from Rs 1,120 to Rs 1,150.
- Three-axle vehicles: Now pay Rs 835 per trip, up from Rs 815.
- Heavy construction machinery (four to six axles): Charged Rs 1,200, increased from Rs 815.
- Oversized vehicles (seven or more axles): Now pay Rs 1,465, compared to Rs 1,425 earlier.
Similar revisions have been implemented at other toll plazas in the region. At the Kherki Daula toll plaza on NH8, cars are charged Rs 100 for a single journey and Rs 150 for a return trip, with a monthly pass of Rs 3,320 and a local pass of Rs 350. Meanwhile, at the Ghamroj toll plaza on the Sohna Highway, car tolls have risen from Rs 125 to Rs 130 for a single trip and from Rs 190 to Rs 195 for a return journey. The monthly pass has been adjusted from Rs 4,240 to Rs 4,345, and the local monthly pass from Rs 340 to Rs 350.
This comprehensive toll increase underscores the growing financial strain on commuters and highlights the urgent need for improved public transportation infrastructure to mitigate the impact on daily travel.
