**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes the response given by the Minister of Road Transport and Highways to questions raised in Lok Sabha regarding the distance between toll booths on national highways. It references the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, as the guiding framework. The response was answered on January 29, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Toll Plaza Establishment Rules:**
* Fee plazas on National Highways are established per the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.
* Sub-Rule (2) of Rule 8 stipulates that no two fee plazas can be established within 60 km of each other on the same section of a National Highway in the same direction.
* An executing authority may, with written justification, establish or allow the concessionaire to establish another fee plaza within 60 km if it's for a permanent bridge, bypass, or tunnel.
* In a closed user fee collection system, fee plazas can be established anywhere on National Highways.
* **Fee Plaza Location Analysis:**
* Fee plaza establishment on National Highways is based on detailed analysis, including land availability, forest area, minimum traffic diversion, municipal limits, safety, and road geometry.
* User fees are collected depending on the project influence length of the respective fee plaza.
* **Public Protests:**
* The Government receives representations regarding the location of fee plazas.
* These representations are examined and addressed as per existing rules and guidelines.
**Impact Analysis**
**National Highway Users**
* **Impact:** Affected by the rules regarding the location of toll booths, potentially influencing travel time and cost.
* **Action Required:** None explicitly stated. However, users can submit representations regarding toll plaza locations.
**National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)**
* **Impact:** Required to adhere to the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, and related guidelines for establishing toll booths.
* **Action Required:** Ensure compliance with distance regulations when setting up fee plazas and address public representations.
**Executing Authorities/Concessionaires**
* **Impact:** Must adhere to regulations regarding the placement of toll booths. They may be granted exceptions with written justification.
* **Action Required:** Comply with regulations, record justifications in writing for exceptions, and manage fee plazas per project influence length.
**Government**
* **Impact:** Receives and addresses public representations regarding the location of fee plazas.
* **Action Required:** Appropriately examine representations as per the extant rules and guidelines.
Key Entities Referenced
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI): Prescribes the details of distance for setting up toll booths across National Highways.
National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008: Governs the establishment of fee plazas on National Highways, specifying distance restrictions and exceptions.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The primary ministry responsible for the subject matter of the unstarred question regarding distance between toll booths.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 68
ANSWERED ON 29TH JANUARY, 2026
DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO TOLL BOOTHS ON NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
68. PROF. SOUGATA RAY:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) the details of distance prescribed by National Highways Authority of
India (NHAI) for setting up of toll booths across National Highways of the
country;
(b) whether the Government has noticed any toll booth functioning
without keeping the minimum distance between two toll booths in the
country, if so, the details of such toll booths, State-wise; and
(c) whether there is any protests from the general public against such
toll booths and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (b) Fee plazas are established on National Highways as per the
provisions of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and
Collection) Rules, 2008, wherein Sub-Rule (2) of Rule 8, stipulates that
any other fee plaza on the same section of National Highway and in the
same direction shall not be established within a distance of 60 km. The
proviso to the said Rule states that where the executing authority deems
necessary, it may for reasons to be recorded in writing, establish or
allow the concessionaire to establish another fee plaza within a distance
of 60 km and also within a distance of 60 km from another fee plaza if
such fee plaza is for collection of fee for a permanent bridge, bypass or
1tunnel. In addition, in case of closed user fee collection system, fee
plazas can be established anywhere on the National Highways.
Fee Plazas are established on NHs based on detailed analysis such as
land availability, forest area, minimum diversion of traffic, Municipal
limits, and safety and road geometry. However, user fee is collected at
the Fee Plaza depending on the project influence length of respective fee
plaza, and not on its specific location within the project influence length.
(c) Government receives representations regarding location of fee
plazas, which are examined and addressed appropriately as per the
extant rules and guidelines.
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