Government Brings Big Relief – No Toll for 20 Km on Highways!
Ankita Rai | Tue, 11 Feb 2025
The Indian government has introduced a game-changing toll tax reform, which will give relief to the pocket of private vehicle owners. According to the new rule, private vehicles traveling up to 20 kilometers on national highways and expressways are exempted from toll ta
( Image credit : Pexels )
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This is the right time when fuel prices are rising and toll fees are becoming costly. An updated toll policy will ease the financial burden on daily commuters, especially those living near toll plazas.
Now, let's break down the key highlights of this new toll tax rule and how it benefits drivers!
The ministry has officially released that private vehicles equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) will not be charged toll for the first 20 km of their journey.
Toll exemption will not be available for commercial vehicles having a national permit. Owners of private vehicles may utilise national highways, expressways, bridges, bypasses, or tunnels free of charge up to 20 km in a single direction per day.
GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) refers to a high-tech system widely utilized in navigation applications like Google Maps. Now, India is adopting this technology for collecting tolls to ensure that the charges are fair and accurate.
This system will help automatically track vehicle movement and determine toll exemptions, reducing unnecessary charges for short-distance commuters.
The amount of toll tax charged depends on:
Vehicle Type – Heavy vehicles (like buses and trucks) pay more than cars.
Distance Traveled – Longer journeys mean higher toll fees.
Toll Booth Policy – Some toll plazas follow dynamic pricing rules.
Also, motorcycles are exempt from toll tax across India.
Certain special category vehicles are completely exempt from toll charges, including:
Emergency Vehicles (Ambulances, Fire Trucks, etc.)
Government & Military Vehicles
Public Transport Vehicles
If toll tax is wrongly collected from any of these vehicles, the driver may lodge a complaint against the toll booth operator.
NHAI says that toll booth crossing two times by the same vehicle in 24 hours as it will be charged just at 1.5 times the standard toll for that particular standard toll.
For frequent travelers, the trip is charged only two-thirds of the original toll amount, which often saves overall costs due to regular commuting.
Now, let's break down the key highlights of this new toll tax rule and how it benefits drivers!
1. Who Benefits from the Toll Tax Exemption?
Highway
( Image credit : Pexels )
Toll exemption will not be available for commercial vehicles having a national permit. Owners of private vehicles may utilise national highways, expressways, bridges, bypasses, or tunnels free of charge up to 20 km in a single direction per day.
2. What is GNSS & Why Does It Matter?
GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) refers to a high-tech system widely utilized in navigation applications like Google Maps. Now, India is adopting this technology for collecting tolls to ensure that the charges are fair and accurate.
This system will help automatically track vehicle movement and determine toll exemptions, reducing unnecessary charges for short-distance commuters.
3. How is Toll Tax Calculated?
Toll tax
( Image credit : Freepik )
Vehicle Type – Heavy vehicles (like buses and trucks) pay more than cars.
Distance Traveled – Longer journeys mean higher toll fees.
Toll Booth Policy – Some toll plazas follow dynamic pricing rules.
Also, motorcycles are exempt from toll tax across India.
4. Special Vehicles Exempt from Toll Tax
Certain special category vehicles are completely exempt from toll charges, including:
Emergency Vehicles (Ambulances, Fire Trucks, etc.)
Government & Military Vehicles
Public Transport Vehicles
If toll tax is wrongly collected from any of these vehicles, the driver may lodge a complaint against the toll booth operator.
5. The 24-Hour Toll Tax Rule – Pay Less for Multiple Trips!
highway
( Image credit : Pexels )
For frequent travelers, the trip is charged only two-thirds of the original toll amount, which often saves overall costs due to regular commuting.
