NEW TOLL PLAZA RULE
In a major relief for commuters, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has announced a new notification regarding toll plaza charges. If a vehicle waits beyond a specific time at any toll plaza, it will not be required to pay toll tax. This move aim to ease traffic congestion and enhance user convenience on national highways.
What is this new Rule?
- NHAI has introduced a maximum waiting time limit at toll plazas across India.
- If a vehicle is made to wait beyond 100 seconds (1 minute 40 seconds) at any toll plaza, it will be exempted from paying toll fee.
- The initiative aligns with the government’s push toward smoother and cashless toll collection through Fastag systems.
- This measure will help to discourage excessive delays and improve customer satisfaction.
Highlights of this notification
- Vehicles must pass through the toll plaza within 100 seconds, in case of delays beyond this limit, no toll fee will be charged.
- Toll operators must ensure adequate manpower and equipment to prevent delay.
- FASTag lanes must be strictly maintained and kept functional.
- NHAI will monitor toll plazas through CCTV cameras for compliance.
- Heavy penalties may be imposed on toll operators for failing to adhere to the guidelines.
Key benefits for commuters
- Saves times, reduces the waiting time at toll plaza.
- Saves money- No toll fee needs to be paid after 100 seconds delay.
- Encourages digital payment-promotes the use of FASTag for cashless transactions.
Who will benefit
- Daily commuters using highways for work and travel.
- Truck and transport operators saving time and operational costs.
- Tourism sectors due to smoother road trips.
- Emergency vehicles and services.
FASTag and its role in reducing waiting time
- FASTag is an electronic toll collection system.
- It enables automatic deduction of toll fees without stopping.
- All lanes to toll plazas have been converted to FASTag lanes.
- Vehicles without FASTag may face double toll charges as penalty.
Possible challenges in implementation
1 High traffic during festive seasons- solution is, deploy additional lanes and staff.
2 Technical glitches in FASTag scanners- solution is, regular maintenance.
3 Lack of awareness among drivers- government should conduct awareness campaign.
4 Manual cash collections to be replaced by FASTag system.
5 Compliance monitoring at remote tolls- install better CCTV infrastructure.
Public reaction
- In general, many commuters who have come to know about this rule has welcomed this move, and calling it as game changer, for road travelers.
- Transport and logistic companies see this a big step toward faster delivery timelines.
- However, some concerns have been raised about proper enforcement, especially during peak hours or in rural areas.
NHAI’s broader vision for future
- Am to introduce barrier-free tolling in the next few years.
- Implement GNSS-based (satellite) toll collection seamless travel.
- Reduce vehicular emissions by minimizing traffic jams at toll plazas.
- Enhance road infrastructure and travel experience across India
The NHAI’s latest toll plaza notification makes a significant first step toward making Indian highways more commuter friendly. By enforcing a maximum waiting time of 100 seconds, the government is not only reducing travel hassles but also promoting greater efficiency and smoother road movement. This rule will help million of travelers enjoy quicker, less stressful journeys while also pushing for greater adoption of FASTag and digital infrastructure. As implementation begins, both authorities and commuters will need to collaborate for the best results.
This notifications have been issued in April 2025, few weeks back, but media has not covered it extensively, and hence many road travelers are still not aware about this.
Waiting for your views on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
6th May 2025