Highway Assistance is now cost-free

Ever felt helpless in the middle of the highway when your car broke down or met with a serious accident? The National Highway Authority of India has now made a unique on-road assistance available to highway travelers, which is not only free of cost, but also includes a wide array of services catering to every need of commuters in 'times of trouble.'

Apart from the route-patrol service, their services include a tow-away crane, ambulance and a fire tender too, which have to be provided by the agency that collects toll from motorists in need, an RTI query has revealed.

There have been cases where commuters have complained about being charged for seeking assistance from the NHAI for towing services etc, which the RTI has clearly stated is a breach of law. That's good news for highway pliers, since this implies that the service can be availed free of cost.

Under NHAI's contract terms all companies taking up the construction and maintenance of national highways are expected to provide assistance to highway users traveling under toll. If there is any deficiency in service, the company that has the contract with NHAI would be held accountable.

Finally, none of the facilities provided by the licensee on behalf of the NHAI like its crane service and car breakdown service are chargeable at market or subsidized rates. And further it is also expected to provide services like toilet blocks, drinking water and bus bays to those traveling on the highway.