**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 85 regarding the new toll-pricing policy, answered on January 29th, 2026. The response addresses the review of the National Highway Toll Policy and the implementation of a new toll-pricing model. It also details user fee discounts, amendments, and the introduction of an Annual Pass scheme, effective August 15th, 2025, for non-commercial vehicles.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Highway Toll Policy Review:** The government is reviewing the 30-year-old National Highway Toll Policy to reflect current traffic, costs, and road-use patterns, aiming for Rs. 73,000 crore in toll collections in 2024-25.
* **Amendments to Reduce Burden on Road Users:**
* **User Fee Restriction:** GSR 437(E) dated 01.07.2025 restricts user fees for highways with longer structure length.
* **Rate Reduction:** GSR 01(E) dated 31.12.2025 reduces rates for highways upgraded from 2-lane paved shoulder to 4 or more lanes.
* **Annual Pass for Non-Commercial Vehicles:**
* G.S.R. 388 (E) dated 17.06.2025 introduces an Annual Pass for non-commercial cars, jeeps, and vans.
* The pass offers 200 NH fee plaza crossings or one year validity for Rs. 3000/-.
* A FASTag-based Annual Pass for non-commercial vehicles came into effect from August 15th, 2025, providing access to all National Highway/Expressway fee plazas for one year or up to 200 crossings at Rs. 3000/-.
* **Existing Provisions for Discounts and Exemptions:**
* Various provisions for discounts in user fees and monthly passes are already in place for local and regular users.
* No fee is levied on two-wheelers, three-wheelers, tractors, and animal-drawn vehicles on national highways, bridges, bypasses, or tunnels, if no service road is available.
* **Impact Assessment:** No State-wise and district-wise impact assessments have been conducted. User fees are collected uniformly at fee plazas.
**Impact Analysis**
**Road Users**
* **Impact:** Road users benefit from revised toll policies, including potential cost savings due to the Annual Pass and rate reductions. Discounts apply to local and frequent commuters.
* **Action Required:** Road users should familiarize themselves with the new Annual Pass scheme and applicable discounts to optimize their travel expenses.
**Residents of Remote and Tribal Districts**
* **Impact:** Residents may benefit from potential toll reductions and discounts aimed at mitigating disproportionate toll burdens, though specific district-wise impact studies are not available.
* **Action Required:** Residents should inquire about and utilize applicable discounts and exemptions for local and tribal communities.
**Vehicle Owners (Non-Commercial Cars, Jeeps, Vans)**
* **Impact:** Benefit from a FASTag based annual pass effective from 15th August 2025 for non commercial vehicles.
* **Action Required:** Vehicle owners should acquire a FASTag and subscribe to the annual pass scheme to avail discounts and travel benefits.
Key Entities Referenced
National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008: A set of rules providing the framework for levying and collecting user fees on national highways, as amended. Referenced multiple times.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The primary government body responsible for the national highway toll policy.
National Highway Toll Policy: The policy being reviewed to reflect current traffic and road-use patterns.
Maharashtra: A state in India mentioned due to its tribal districts being affected by the changes.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 85
ANSWERED ON 29TH JANUARY, 2026
NEW TOLL-PRICING POLICY
85. ADV GOWAAL KAGADA PADAVI:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is reviewing the nearly 30-year-old National
Highway Toll Policy and is considering a new toll-pricing model to reflect
current traffic, cost and road-use patterns with toll collections reaching
Rs. 73,000 crore in 2024-25;
(b) if so, the changes proposed in the toll-policy including user-fee levels,
concession periods, toll-plaza rationalisation and discount for local
traffic and the manner in which those changes would affect road-users in
remote and tribal districts of Maharashtra;
(c) whether there are any special provisions to protect frequent
commuters, tribal residents, small traders and farmers using national
and State highways through tribal and backward regions from
disproportionate toll burden, if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the timeline by which the revised toll-policy will be notified nationally
and the time duration for publishing State-wise and district-wise impact
assessments including for tribal and backward districts?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
1(a) to (b) The Government from time to time has reviewed the tolling
policy with the objective of ensuring a balanced approach between
revenue requirements for highway development and minimizing burden
on road users. The National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and
Collection) Rules, 2008, as amended, provide a transparent framework
for levy and collection of user fee, with rates linked to the length of the
highway and type of vehicle uniformly across the country.
In order to reduce the burden on road user, Government has made
various provisions through following amendments:
(i) GSR 437(E) dated 01.07.2025 to restrict user fee for highways with
more structure length, and
(ii) GSR 01(E) dated 31.12.2025 for reduction of rates in case of
upgradation from 2 lane paved shoulder highway to 4 or more lane
(iii) G.S.R. 388 (E) dated 17.06.2025 introducing an Annual Pass for non-
commercial cars, jeeps, and vans. This scheme offers 200 NH fee plaza
crossings or one year validity, whichever is earlier, by payment of Rs.
3000/- (Rupees three thousand).
The Government is committed to making the tolling system more
efficient, transparent, and user-friendly, while simultaneously ensuring
the availability of resources for development and maintenance of the
National Highways network.
(c) to (d) There are already various provisions for discounts in user fees
and monthly passes for local and regular users of National Highways
across the country, in accordance with the NH Fee Rules, 2008. In
addition, no fee is levied for the use of the section of national highway,
permanent bridge, bypass or tunnel, as the case may be, by two
wheelers, three wheelers, tractors and animal drawn vehicles provided
no service road is available.
Further, the Government has introduced a FASTag based Annual Pass for
non-commercial cars, jeeps, and vans, which has come into effect from
15th August, 2025. Annual Pass scheme will be activated on payment of
Rs.3000/- and offers travel for non-commercial car/jeep/vans at all
National Highway/National Expressway fee plazas for one year or up to
200 fee plaza crossings whichever is earlier.
2No State-wise and district-wise study has been conducted. However, the
user fee is collected at a fee plaza for the use of any section of National
Highway as per the provisions of National Highways Fee Rules, 2008
applicable for the respective category of vehicles uniformly across the
country.
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