The Gujarat government implemented its decision of exempting small vehicles from paying toll on 27 plazas on the 12 State highways. The vehicles include cars and jeeps.
Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation buses have also been exempted from paying toll tax at the said plazas.
In its annual budget for 2016-17, the Gujarat government had proposed an increase in taxes to the tune of Rs 195 crores, while it offered tax relief of Rs 251 crores, taking the overall estimated surplus to Rs 189 crores for FY’17.
Across other states, road users can only hope and pray that their states too take a similar decision. In reality, however, it is quite possible that the Gujarat government might have taken this decision to appease the masses considering the state assembly elections are set to take place next year.
This (decision) comes as a relief to around 86,000 vehicles passing the 12 state highways daily. The state government will bear the toll tax and it will not be collected from people.
The state exchequer will incur an additional expense of Rs 150 crore following this exemption.
The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) will save Rs 20 crore per year after the tax exemption and this benefit will be passed on to consumers.
The 12 state highways that have become toll-free from are: Ahmedabad-Mehsana, Vadodara-Halol, Ahmedabad-Viramgam-Maliya, Halol-Godhra-Shamlaji, Rajkot-Jamnagar-Vadinar, Himmatnagar Bypass, Kim-Mandvi Highway, Bhuj-Nakhatarana Highway, Kapadwanj-Modasa, Deesa-Gundri, Vadodara-Chhayapur and Bagodara-Bamnasore.
