By Kavita Sharma
Photo Credit: The Suncity News
Patna, September 2, 2026: The Bihar cabinet has decided to introduce road user fees, or tolls, for vehicles travelling on major bridges and state highways.
A proposal to engage consultancy services for the initiative was approved at a state Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.
A total of 27 proposals were approved during the meeting. In the first phase, 47 bridges measuring more than 250 metres in length and 55 state highways have been identified for toll collection.
However, toll collection will not begin immediately, as the required surveys, infrastructure and technical arrangements must first be completed.
Traffic surveys will be conducted to assess the volume of vehicles using the identified roads and bridges.
The surveys will also collect information about vehicles’ origins and destinations. The data will be used to determine the future tolling arrangements.
The locations of toll plazas will be decided based on traffic density. Their size and infrastructure will be designed according to vehicle volume and the number of lanes on the respective roads.
FASTag-based toll collection will also be introduced to establish an efficient and technology-driven system.
The consultancy will cover several aspects of the tolling system, including determining road user fee rates, monitoring collections, and managing toll projects through an integrated framework.
The estimated cost of engaging the consultancy services is Rs 30.94 crore (Rs 30,94,71,500).
Technical agencies will be engaged to install the equipment and computer systems required for FASTag-based toll collection.
Once the necessary infrastructure is in place, an agency will be selected to operate the toll collection system, after which road vehicles will use the identified roads and bridges.
Rs 9,169 crore in grants for urban local bodies in the cabinet meeting:
The Cabinet also approved the allocation of Rs 9,169 crore in basic and performance grants to urban local bodies in Bihar under the recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission. The funds will cover the period from 2026-27 to 2030-31.
The grants will be allocated in a 90:10 ratio based on population and own-source revenue.
The Patna Municipal Corporation will also benefit from special infrastructure components and urbanization premiums under the arrangement.
The measures are expected to accelerate development projects across urban local bodies in the state.
Urban infrastructure projects under Samagra Shahri Vikas Yojana:
The Cabinet approved the continuation of the Mukhyamantri Samagra Shahri Vikas Yojana (Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Urban Development Scheme) from 2026-27 to 2030-31.
Under the scheme, projects will be undertaken to improve urban infrastructure, including roads, drainage systems, parking facilities, footpaths and street lighting.
Development of lakes, parks, ghats and other water bodies will also be covered.
Projects with a total outlay of Rs 500 crore will be selected under the scheme, with implementation to be carried out by the Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUDCO).
The Cabinet also granted administrative approval of Rs 39.80 crore for widening a 7.20-kilometre stretch of Nehru Path in Patna, from Dak Bunglaw Crossing to Rukanpura.
The projects will include road widening as well as the relocation of drains and footpaths.
Provisions have also been made for shifting boundary walls, installing around five kilometers of grills, relocating utilities and trees, and putting up road safety signage.
The cabinet decisions are expected to accelerate several projects related to road infrastructure, urban development and transport across Bihar, while laying the groundwork for a state-wide road user fee collection system.
EOM.
