The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued an amendment (effective July 2, 2025) to the 2008 National Highways Fee Rules. For highway segments where structural elements (tunnels, bridges, flyovers, elevated sections) account for more than 50% of the distance, toll charges will now be the lower of:
- 10 × length of structures
- 5 × total length of the section
This effectively cuts tolls by half, capping them at five times the standard rate instead of the previous tenfold multiplier
🧮 How It Works: Example
- A 40 km stretch, entirely comprised of elevated road, would previously incur tolls calculated on 400 km (10×).
- Under the new rule, it’s capped at 200 km (5×)—a full 50% reduction.
🚘 Who Benefits?
- Highway commuters—especially frequent travelers between cities, such as Delhi–Jaipur or along expressways.
- Commercial vehicles and logistics operators, where elevated structures can make up significant route distances
- Certain urban bypasses and ring roads (e.g., Dwarka Expressway) are expected to see substantial toll savings
🎯 Why It Matters
| Benefit | Impact |
|---|---|
| Cost relief | Halved toll rates ease financial burden on commuters and transporters |
| Fairer structuring | Aligns toll charges with actual road usage rather than inflated structural costs |
| Encourages usage | Likely to boost traffic on elevated corridors and urban expressways |
| Policy shift | A more commuter-friendly approach to highway infrastructure pricing |
🔜 What’s Next?
- Formal notification should be issued soon, making the rules enforceable across all national highways timesofindia
- New toll calculations will be implemented at plazas where structural stretches exceed 50%.
- This change is part of a broader effort to modernize highway tolling, alongside plans for annual FASTag passes and digital tolling systems
✅ Bottom Line
With the new rule, the government is halving tolls on elevated highway stretches—offering meaningful savings to commuters and businesses. Visiting highway routes with extensive bridges, tunnels, and flyovers? Expect quicker and cheaper travel, courtesy of smarter toll policy.
