Transporters may have to shell out more for toll on new port roads

The development comes at a time when the shipping ministry stares at under-utilisation of assets since there has been slow progress on road and railway connectivity projects

Transporters grappling with surging costs and rising toll charges on roads and highways may have to deal with an additional cost burden. The Centre is mulling over the possibility of instituting toll collection on the new road infrastructure (infra) being developed around ports for smoother connectivity, Business Standard has learnt.

With 95 per cent of India’s export-import trade happening through its ports, toll levies on port-connecting roads not part of national highways could provide a new source of revenue for the debt-plagued National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways recently made a proposal to the Ministry