ISLAMABAD: The Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) has increased the toll tax rate for Lahore-Islamabad Motorway (M2) by 10 percent.

Talking to Business Recorder, General Manager National Highways Authority (NHA) said the NHA had signed a 20 years agreement with the FWO.

As per the agreement, the FWO increases toll tax by 10 percent applicable from August 26 every year.

According to the notification, the new toll tax for cars is Rs830 from the previous Rs750.

Currently, the toll tax rates for the Islamabad-Peshawar (M1) Motorway, which is another major route, stand at Rs240 for cars and SUVs, Rs400 for 12 passenger vans, Rs550 for mini-buses, Rs790 for full-size buses, Rs1,230 for trucks, and Rs1,270 for semi-trailer trucks, as per the NHA's official website.

The rates for all other routes remain unchanged as per the NHA website.

The toll rates at Islamabad-Peshawar and Islamabad-Lahore motorways would see three to four times increase in the coming years compared to the rates that were in effect over 15 to 20 years ago, while the NHA needs Rs92 billion annually for the maintenance and renovation of highways, said senior officials of the NHA.

The officials said that toll rates had previously been and would be increased proportionately in accordance with the terms of the contract, and the average number of vehicles that use the motorway.

He said the toll rates of M-1 (Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway) would go up from Rs80 to Rs240 for cars, Rs100 to Rs400 for wagons, Rs140 to Rs550 for minibus, and Rs210 to Rs790 for buses (from the year 2005 to 2021).

The toll rates for M-2 (Islamabad-Lahore) Motorway would go up from Rs200 to Rs750 for cars, Rs300 to Rs1,250 for wagons, Rs300 to Rs1,760 for minibus, and Rs450 to Rs2,510 for buses (from the year 1997 to 2020.)

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020