Despite the long-standing appeal for toll exemption by various NGOs and political parties, Minister for road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari, says toll collection will continue. "The toll (collection) will never go. The toll will be there. If you want good services, you will have to pay for it," said Gadkari at a PTI employee union on Tuesday.
According to 2017 statistics, 1.46 lakh people have lost their lives in the 4.60 lakh road accidents that have been reported across the country. Regular maintenance of the roads is a must to prevent accidents and also to increase safety on the highways, and for this purpose tolls are essential.
Opposition parties like the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) continue to push for toll-free highways.