Government has announced free highway travel for private vehicles
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has announced an important update to the toll collection system that will help millions of private vehicle owners in India. With the new National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Amendment Rules, 2024, private vehicles can now travel toll-free for short distances on national highways and expressways. This change is designed to make toll collection easier and lessen the financial strain on private vehicle owners.
What are the details of the new policy change?
Under the updated regulations, private vehicles with a working Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) will benefit from free toll charges for highway trips up to 20 km per day. For journeys exceeding 20 km, the toll will be based on the actual distance travelled.
The government’s official announcement reads: “Passengers, operators, or individuals responsible for operating motor vehicles (except those with a National Permit) travelling on the same stretch of a national road, bridge, bypass, or tunnel will not have to pay any toll fees for trips up to 20 kilometres in each direction daily under the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-enabled toll collection system.”
The GNSS-enabled toll collection system has been carefully considered for a while. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has previously conducted trials of this system in conjunction with the current FASTag system through a trial project. The aim is to improve the efficiency of toll collection, alleviate traffic jams at toll booths, and provide a more seamless journey by leveraging cutting-edge GNSS technology.
Furthermore, the announcement mentions: “Moreover, special lanes could be set aside for vehicles that have GNSS On-Board Units. Vehicles that try to enter these lanes without a valid GNSS unit will be subject to a fee that is double the usual toll fee at that location.
