**Executive Summary**
This document is the response from the Minister of Road Transport and Highways to the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2280 regarding toll charges on local transporters, answered on February 12th, 2026. The response addresses concerns about toll charges at the Talmood Toll Plaza on NH-65 near Basavakalyan, Karnataka and highlights government initiatives to rationalise tolls. Key dates relate to amendment notifications regarding user fee reductions and implementations effective between July 2025 and February 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Toll Collection Policy:**
* User fees are collected at fee plazas like Talmood based on the project influence length, not specific location, as per the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.
* Base rates for vehicle categories are uniformly applied nationwide.
* **Toll Exemptions and Concessions:**
* The Government reviews representations regarding toll exemptions, concessions, or relocation of fee plazas.
* The 2008 Rules provide for user fee discounts for non-commercial vehicles registered in the district and monthly passes for regular users.
* **Government Review and Amendments:**
* No specific assessment has been conducted for any particular category of worker.
* The government periodically reviews tolling policy to balance revenue requirements with road user burden.
* Amendments have been made to the NH Fee Rules:
* GSR 437(E) dated 01.07.2025 restricts user fees for highways with more structure length.
* GSR 01(E) dated 31.12.2025 reduces rates for highway upgrades from 2 to 4+ lanes.
* G.S.R. 388 (E) dated 17.06.2025 introduces an Annual Pass for non-commercial vehicles (cars, jeeps, vans) providing 200 NH fee plaza crossings or one year validity for Rs. 3000.
* G.S.R. 734 (E) dated 03.10.2025 reduces the user fee for vehicles without FASTag paying via UPI from 2 times to 1.25 times the standard fee.
* G.S.R. 107 (E) dated 04.02.2026 sets the fee for partially operational expressways at one time the applicable fee (instead of 1.25 times).
* **Technological Implementation:**
* The government will implement Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and RFID-based Electronic Toll Collection (FASTag) for barrier-less tolling.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Local Transporters, Truck Operators, and Inter-State Cargo Vehicles**
* **Impact**: Concerns regarding repeated toll charges at the Talmood Toll Plaza are addressed. The response highlights the uniform application of toll rates and available discount options.
* **Action Required**: Review the applicability of user fee discounts, monthly passes and annual pass.
**Stakeholder: Government of Karnataka, Transport Unions, and Public Representatives**
* **Impact**: Acknowledges requests for toll concessions, exemptions, or relocation of fee plazas. Reaffirms the government's process for examining and addressing these requests as per existing regulations.
* **Action Required**: Continue to submit representations regarding toll-related concerns and ensure they align with established rules and guidelines.
**Stakeholder: Road Users / Passengers**
* **Impact**: Government commitment to easing toll burden and improve convenience by lowering user fee discounts and monthly passes.
* **Action Required**: Review existing policies and determine available discounts for monthly passes or other concessions.
**Stakeholder: National Highway Users**
* **Impact**: National highway users are now able to avail fee discounts on national highways as per provisions under the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.
* **Action Required**: Assess eligibility to available provisions and apply for discounts accordingly.
Key Entities Referenced
National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008: The primary regulatory framework governing toll charges, discounts, and user fees on national highways in India.
Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF): An electronic toll collection system aimed at barrier-less tolling using technologies like ANPR and FASTag.
NH-65: The national highway on which the Talmood Toll Plaza is located, making it directly relevant to the toll charge issues discussed.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The central ministry responsible for road transport and highways, directly addressing concerns about toll charges.
Basavakalyan: A town in Karnataka significantly impacted by toll charges due to its role as a logistics hub, and the location of the Talmood Toll Plaza.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2280
ANSWERED ON 12TH FEBRUARY, 2026
TOLL CHARGES ON LOCAL TRANSPORTERS
2280. SHRI SAGAR ESHWAR KHANDRE:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that the Talmood Toll Plaza on NH-
65, located just 23 km from Basavakalyan (Bangla), imposes repeated
toll charges on local transporters, truck operators and inter-State cargo
vehicles;
(b) whether the Government of Karnataka, transport unions or public
representatives have requested for toll concessions, exemptions or
relocation, considering Basavakalyan’s role as a major logistics hub with
movement of over 18,000 lorries daily;
(c) whether the Government has assessed the financial burden, route
congestion and operational inefficiency caused to more than 45,000
transport workers;
(d) whether the Government proposes local-user concessions, monthly
passes or toll rationalisation for Basavakalyan-bound vehicles; and
(e) if not, the reasons for maintaining the current toll arrangement
affecting this key transit hub?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
1(a) The user fee is collected at a fee plaza, including the Talmood fee
Plaza, based on the project influence length of the respective Fee Plaza
and not on its specific location within the project influence length, in
accordance with the provisions of National Highways Fee (Determination
of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 and respective Concession
Agreement. The base rates for the respective categories of vehicles are
uniformly applicable across the country.
(b) Government receives representations regarding toll exemption/
concession or location of fee plazas, which are examined and addressed
appropriately as per the extant rules and guidelines. Moreover, as per
National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules,
2008, there are already various provisions for discounts in user fee for
non-commercial vehicles registered in the district and monthly passes
for regular users of National Highways.
(c) to (e) No separate assessment specific to a particular category of
workers has been carried out. However, 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.
In order to reduce the burden on passengers, User fee discounts and
monthly passes are available to National Highways users as per the
provisions of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and
Collection) Rules, 2008.
Further, to minimize the burden on road users and improve affordability,
convenience and to lessen congestion on road user, the Government has
made various provisions in the extant NH Fee Rule, through following
amendments:
(i) GSR 437(E) dated 01.07.2025 to restrict user fee for highways
with more structure length,
(ii) GSR 01(E) dated 31.12.2025 for reduction of rates in case of up
gradation from 2 lane paved shoulder highway to 4 or more lane
2(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).
(iv) G.S.R. 734 (E) dated 03.10.2025 for reduction in applicable
user fee for vehicles without FASTag or active FASTag vehicles
from 2 times to 1.25 times, given the user opts for payment
through UPI;
(v) G.S.R. 107 (E) dated 04.02.2026 for the fee payable for the use
of a national expressway that is operational for only a part of its
notified length shall be levied at a rate of one time of the
applicable fee instead of 1.25 times.
(vi) Implementation of Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling: The
Government has decided to implement Multi-Lane Free Flow
(MLFF) Electronic Toll Collection system, which facilitates barrier-
less tolling using integrated technologies including Automatic
Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) with AI analytics and RFID-
based Electronic Toll Collection (FASTag), where the user fee shall
be charged from the vehicle users without having to stop, slow
down or stay in a given fee plaza lane.
(vii) As per National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and
Collection) Rules, 2008, there are already various provisions for
discounts in user fees and monthly passes for local and regular
users of National Highways across the country.
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.
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