New Toll Rules: No Charges for the First 20 km, Pay Only for Distance Traveled Beyond
Toll roads could soon be much less frustrating for private vehicle owners, thanks to a new toll system introduced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, designed to make journeys smoother.
Under the new system, if your vehicle is equipped with a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), you won’t be charged any toll fees for traveling up to 20 km on highways or expressways.
This change is part of the revised National Highways Fee Rules, 2024, which now implement a pay-as-you-go system, charging tolls based on the distance traveled beyond the first 20 km.
As per a recent notification, private vehicle owners with a functioning GNSS will be exempt from toll charges for the first 20 km of their journey each day. This update follows the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ revision of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.
Going forward, toll fees will be calculated based on the actual distance traveled beyond 20 km. For example, if you drive 30 km on a highway, you will only be charged for the 10 km beyond the toll-free 20 km.
GNSS-based toll system
The new regulations, officially titled the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Amendment Rules, 2024, aim to streamline toll collection. By utilizing GNSS technology to track the distance traveled, the system ensures accurate and fair toll charges for drivers.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had previously launched a pilot project to test the GNSS-based toll collection system. This pilot was conducted on select national highways, including the Bengaluru-Mysore section of NH-275 in Karnataka and the Panipat-Hisar section of NH-709 in Haryana.
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari previously stated that the new GNSS-based toll collection system is being introduced alongside the existing FASTag system.
To facilitate a smooth transition, the ministry organized an international workshop on June 25, 2024, to gather global insights on the new system. Additionally, an expression of interest (EOI) was invited from various stakeholders, with submissions open until July 22, 2024.
Image Credits- Indian Toll Plaza
