The government of Masoud Pezeshkian has announced significant increases in toll rates for major highways starting November 21, following approval by the Supreme Economic Council on November 4, 2024. State media confirmed the new rates, which represent up to a 15-fold rise compared to previous tariffs. Critics have described the move as a financial burden on citizens already grappling with economic challenges.
According to ISNA, the toll rates for several key highways have been raised as follows: Tehran-Qom from 2,000 tomans to 15,000 tomans, Tehran-Saveh to 20,000 tomans, and Qazvin-Zanjan to 35,000 tomans. The Karaj-Qazvin and Bandar Abbas-Shahid Rajaee highways also saw substantial increases. The government justified these hikes as essential for covering the high costs of maintaining and upgrading highway infrastructure. Entekhab noted that toll rates had not been adjusted for several years, creating funding gaps in road maintenance and development.
The sharp increases have drawn heavy criticism from citizens and experts, who argue that such drastic measures disproportionately affect low-income populations and some fear the new rates will discourage the use of highways, pushing traffic to secondary roads that are less safe and less equipped to handle increased volume. Critics also point to discrepancies in the government’s approach. Entekhab reported that according to prior regulations, highways transferred to government ownership after private investment recoupment should operate toll-free or with minimal charges. Despite this, tolls on these routes remain high, raising questions about the increase’s rationale.
Witness the harrowing reality of #Iran's roads: Unsafe cars, high traffic accidents, and tragic consequences. Watch the #video to understand why these roads are among the world's deadliest. pic.twitter.com/NzkFw5gYpp
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) May 15, 2024
Officials have defended the hikes, citing the need to sustain road infrastructure. Entekhab stated, “The cost of road maintenance is high, and even 5% of the required funding is unavailable. Therefore, investment recovery through tolls is imperative.”
Under the pretext of addressing economic challenges, the government’s decision to drastically increase toll rates has further alienated an already disillusioned public. With no trust left in the regime, these measures are expected to infuriate citizens and amplify calls for change. Critics argue that such actions, perceived as serving the government’s agenda rather than public interests, will exacerbate economic hardships and push people toward more protests and potentially radical measures to reclaim their rights. As the toll hikes take effect on November 21, they risk becoming yet another catalyst for unrest in an increasingly volatile environment.
