It looks like the Chandrababu Naidu Government is serious about introducing a Toll Tax on Select State Highways. The idea is to involve Private Parties in maintenance of Roads but then, the idea is going to cost huge political capital.

The government has prepared the ground for implementing a Toll for 18 roads covering 1,307 kilometers in the first phase.

Revanth Reddy With TDP Minister, What's Cooking?

The government has announced that it is studying to implement the same for 68 roads covering 3,931 kilometers under the PPP model in the coming days.

The government is moving forward with the aim of privatizing all the roads in the coming days in phases.

Elections For 3 Rajya Sabha Seats, TDP To Win!

If we go through the list of these roads, a majority are rural and Agency areas. The income the government will get here will be very low but the damage it has to pay politically will be huge.

Petrol Prices increase will pinch the public for 2-3 days and they will go on with regular business after that. But Toll will pinch them every day they travel on the road. In the case of Fuel Prices, the governments can escape saying it is the decision of the Central Government.

RS Elections: Will CBN Commit That Mistake?

But the State Government will face the direct brunt of this idea.

Even though the roads are maintained on par with US roads, people will only think about the money they spend.

If this idea is implemented in Agency areas, there will be instances of Maoists destroying Toll Booths and robbing the cash. This will only increase the strength of the Naxals.

This idea is very similar to Jagan's Chettha Pannu. The revenue the Government got through Chettha Pannu is almost negligible but it had played a crucial role in Jagan's loss. More than the quantum of its role, Chettha Pannu became a political narrative against Jagan.

This idea of collecting Toll Tax for State Roads is similar. At least Chettha Pannu is collected once a month. This is almost on a regular basis and the damage will be even huge.