No toll tax for private vehicles up to 20 km: Govt amends National Highways Fee Rules

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has recently amended the National Highways Fee Rules, 2008, bringing significant relief for private vehicle owners. According to the new regulations under the “National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Amendment Rules, 2024,” private vehicles equipped with a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) will not have to pay tolls for distances of up to 20 kilometers on national highways.

For journeys exceeding 20 kilometers, tolls will be charged based on the actual distance traveled, making the toll collection more accurate. This GNSS-based system is being introduced alongside the current FASTag system, and a pilot project has already been conducted on highways between Bengaluru-Mysore and Panipat-Hisar. This move is expected to reduce toll costs for local commuters who frequently use highways for short distances.