Historical Background

• Toll collection in India dates back to ancient and medieval periods.
  
• Kings and local rulers levied tolls for using roads and trade routes.
  
• These charges were collected at gates or checkpoints by officials.
  
• Toll income supported road maintenance and security patrols.
  
• It was a recognized source of public revenue in early India.
  

British Era Introduction

• Formal toll systems were introduced during British colonial rule.
  
• Tolls were charged for using roads, bridges, and canals.
  
• The British enacted laws to legalize toll collection across provinces.
  
• Funds collected were used for road development and administration.
  
• Toll barriers were placed at major trade and transport points.
  

Post-Independence Toll System

• After independence, road management shifted to government departments.
  
• Early toll roads were limited to key bridges and urban stretches.
  
• The need for infrastructure growth revived toll-based financing.
  
• Pilot toll projects were launched on national highways.
  
• Manual toll booths operated with fixed rate schedules.
  

Introduction of Modern Tolling

• Organized tolling started in the 1990s under economic reforms.
  
• The National Highways Act was amended to support toll operations.
  
• Build-Operate-Transfer projects were introduced for highway development.
  
• Private players were invited to build roads and collect tolls.
  
• National Highways Authority of India became the lead agency.
  

Timeline of First Official Toll Road

• India’s first major modern toll project began in the early 1990s.
  
• The Delhi–Noida–Direct Flyway was one of the first toll expressways.
  
• Widespread tolling started under the Golden Quadrilateral project.
  
• The year 1995 marked the start of structured toll policy under NHAI.
  
• Toll collection has since expanded across national and state highways.