Highway traffic returns to 90% of pre-covid levels: ICRA

Commercial vehicle movement on national highways recovered to near 90% of pre-covid levels in July. However, the movement in passenger vehicles is yet to recover fully and is still hovering at 60% of their pre-covid levels, a report from credit ratings agency ICRA said. If the pace of recovery continues and holds, the year-on-year fall in toll collections can be limited to under 10%, the agency said.

The unabated rise in covid-19 infections in the unlock phase, localised re-imposition of lockdowns in several states, and heavy monsoons in many parts of the country had interrupted traffic recovery in the first fortnight of July but by the second half of the month, toll collections reached 87% of pre-covid levels.

“Majority of the national highway stretches being arterial routes have 70-75% of toll collections from commercial vehicles; passenger vehicles account for less than a quarter of toll collections.