Govt resuming toll collection on major roads from new fiscal year

KATHMANDU: The government is preparing to resume toll collection on major roads across the country.

The Road Board Nepal, which was collecting tolls on 15 roads before the COVID-19 pandemic, has decided to resume toll collection. It has included eight new roads, including one tunnel road, for toll collection. Two of these eight roads—the Kathmandu-Terai/Madhesh Expressway and the Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel—are not yet operational.

According to the board, toll collection will begin soon on the remaining 23 roads.

Ganesh Bahadur KC, executive director of the Road Boards Nepal, told Himal Press that toll collection will begin on the Bhumahi-Bhairahawa road from the new fiscal year, which starts in mid-July. Similarly, toll collection will begin in Nagdhunga from January 1.

“Since many roads are undergoing expansion and maintenance, we will not start full-fledged collection. Toll will initially be completed on roads that are ready for operation,” he added.

According to KC, toll collection will be based on an online system. “Motor vehicles must have an RFID card issued by the Board. RFID gates will automatically deduct the fee once they pass through the gates,” KC added. “Vehicle owners can top up the card using their banks or digital wallets.”

KC also said that the Board was exploring the possibility of mobilizing the financial assistance of development partners to build the necessary infrastructure for toll collection.

The newly added toll routes include four sections of the East-West Highway—Butwal–Lamahi, Lamahi–Kohalpur, Kohalpur–Attariya, and Attariya–Gaddachauki—along with the Dhulikhel–Tatopani section of the Araniko Highway, Muglin–Pokhara section of the Prithvi Highway, the Kathmandu-Terai/Madhesh Expressway, and the Nagdhunga Tunnel.

The Board had been collecting tolls on Hetadua-Narayanghat, Narayanghat-Butwal, Naubise-Mulin, Bhairahawa-Bhumahi, Kakarbhitta-Damak, Damak-Itahari, Biratnagar-Dharan, Koshi-Chauharwa, Chauharwa-Pathlaiya, Hetaud-Birgunj, Brigunj-Pathlaiya, Dhulikhel-Khurkot, Khurkot-Sindhuli-Bardibas and Panchkhal-Melamchi.

The Board has categorized motor vehicles into three groups for toll collection purposes. Toll-free for bus, minibus, truck, minitruck and heavy equipment ranges from Rs 30-140, while cars, jeep, pickup van and tractors will have to pay in the range of Rs 15-85. Likewise, motorcycles and three-wheelers will be charged Rs 5-15 depending on the roads.