Frequent stops at toll plazas are taking a toll on both the environment and the economy

One would be shocked to know that the delays of freight vehicles at various check posts and toll plazas, along with the cost of the resultant additional fuel consumption, costs around $21.3 billion (Rs 1.45 lakh crore). The above figure has come from a study conducted by IIM-C for a major Indian logistics firm.

This is the third edition of the report on operational efficiency of freight transportation on Indian roads, mentioning that even though the average journey time and vehicle speeds have improved over the past two years, the number of stops and delays and amount of expenses has increased.

These stops do not include toll plazas but the check posts and state borders that the vehicles stop at for paying sales and entry tax, as asked by transport department officials and police personnel.

The report added that while average stoppage delays per km have not changed much from 2011-12, the average stoppage expenses per tonne-km have worsened because of these delays.

As per estimates, the cost of delay was $6.6 billion per year and the cost of additional fuel consumption due to this delay turned out to be $14.7 billion.

Road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari has said that he now wants lesser number of trucks on Indian roads.

"For us, the priority mode for transportation of goods is water, then rail and roads come last. Using waterway is economic and eco-friendly as well," he added.

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