Toll Plaza Rules in India

Toll plazas require vehicles to pay a fee, known as a toll, for using specific roads or highways. These tolls support infrastructure construction and maintenance. In India, toll plazas are managed by public-private partnerships or government agencies.

Key regulations include:

• The National Highways Act, 1956: Establishes the legal basis for toll collection.
• The Central Road Fund Act, 2000: Creates a fund for highway construction and maintenance.
• Toll-Operate-Transfer (TOT) Model: Allows private companies to operate and maintain highways in exchange for an upfront payment.

This article outlines the rules and guidelines governing toll plazas in India.

Rules Related to Toll and Payment Collection

• Display the toll rates prominently at the toll plaza entrance.
• Toll payment collectors must accept payments via Fast Tag, as cash payment lanes have been removed from the toll gates since Feb, 2021.

NoToll After 10 seconds

According to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), if a driver waits longer than 10 seconds at a toll plaza, the toll fee is waived. To maintain this standard, NHAI issued guidelines in May 2021 to ensure that each vehicle is serviced within 10 seconds, even during peak hours.

Additionally, NHAI regulations mandate that toll plazas must mark a yellow line 100 meters before the toll booth entry. This measure controls traffic flow and ensures vehicles waiting at the booth do not extend beyond the 100-meter mark.

Implementation and Use of FASTag

To minimize the inconvenience of long queues at toll plazas, the NHAI has mandated the use of FASTags. A FASTag is a sticker that employs Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for automatic electronic toll payments. This rule, introduced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in 2017, requires all vehicles to be equipped with a FASTag.

The vehicle’s registration details are linked to the barcode on the FASTag. Consequently, when a vehicle passes through a toll plaza, the barcode is scanned, and the appropriate toll fee is automatically deducted from the vehicle's digital FASTag wallet.

New FASTag Rules and Regulations

Here are the new rules about FASTags you should be aware of:

• Mandatory: According to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), it is mandatory for all vehicle owners to use FASTag with effect from February 2021.
• Make Sure the FASTag Works: If your FASTag does not work at a FASTag toll lane, the toll charges will be doubled. Therefore, before you enter a toll lane, make sure that the RFID barcode is not damaged and that your FASTag wallet has sufficient balance.
• Double Charges without FASTag: If you do not have a FASTag and want to cross a toll plaza, you will have to pay twice as much as the standard toll rates. Therefore, it is advisable to install a FASTag if you wish to save time and money.
• Third-Party Insurance: According to The Motor Vehicles Act, of 1988, you should mandatorily possess third-party insurance. A FASTag must be assigned to your vehicle's registration number if you want to purchase third-party insurance. Therefore, even if you don't drive on highways, you still have to install a FASTag.
• Validity: The validity of your FASTag is five years. To maintain sufficient balance, make sure to recharge the tag on time.
• One FASTag Per Vehicle: A FASTag is linked to the registration number of your vehicle. So, you can use only one FASTag per vehicle. If you use a FASTag for multiple vehicles, you will be penalized.

Toll Plaza Spacing Regulations

Under the Fee Rules 2008, toll plazas are required to be spaced at least 60 kilometers apart. On March 22, Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, declared in the Lok Sabha that only one toll plaza will be permitted on national highways that span 60 kilometers. Read Source

Additionally, he stated, "...and if there's a second toll plaza, then it will be shut in the next three months," in response to concerns raised during a Lok Sabha debate about the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) grant requests.

Single vs. Return Trip Toll Charges

Toll charges are determined by whether the vehicle makes a single trip (crossing the toll plaza once) or a return trip (crossing the same toll plaza twice within a specified time frame). FASTag automates these charges as follows:

1. Single Trip: If a vehicle crosses the toll plaza once, the toll charged is based on the single trip rate.
2. Return Trip: If a vehicle crosses the toll plaza twice within 24 hours, the total toll charged is 1.5 times the single trip rate. For example, if the single trip rate is Rs. 80, the total charge for two trips within 24 hours is Rs. 120 (1.5 times Rs. 80).
3. Difference Deduction: If the return trip is completed within the allowed time frame, FASTag deducts only the difference between the round-trip and single-trip charges. For instance, if the round-trip rate is Rs. 125 and the single trip rate is Rs. 80, Rs. 55 is deducted on the return trip.
4. Outside Allotted Time: If the return trip occurs outside the allotted time frame, the full single trip rate of Rs. 80 is charged as a new trip.
5. Time Frame Variations: The time frame for return trips may vary by toll plaza, with some allowing a 24-hour window, while others may reset at noon or midnight.

Vehicle Categorization for Toll Charges

In India, toll charges are determined based on the type of vehicle, which is classified into categories according to size, weight, and purpose of use. Common categories include passenger cars, motorcycles, and commercial vehicles.

Vehicles must adhere to their assigned category when paying tolls, and the toll charges will vary accordingly. The following outlines the vehicle categorizations for toll charges:

• Category 1: Cars, Two-Wheelers, and Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs):
  • This category includes regular cars, motorcycles, and small commercial vehicles.
  • Toll charges for Category 1 vehicles are generally lower compared to larger and heavier vehicles.
• Category 2: Medium Commercial Vehicles (MCVs):
  • MCVs encompass a range of medium-sized commercial vehicles, including larger delivery trucks.
  • Toll charges for Category 2 vehicles are higher than those for Category 1 vehicles.
• Category 3: Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCVs):
  • HCVs include larger trucks, buses, and other heavy-duty commercial vehicles.
  • Toll charges for Category 3 vehicles are typically the highest due to their size and impact on road infrastructure.
• Category 4: Multi-Axle Vehicles:
  • Multi-axle vehicles, often larger trucks and buses with multiple axles, fall into this category.
  • Toll charges for Category 4 vehicles are higher to account for their larger size and potential impact on road maintenance.
• Category 5: Over-dimensional and Over-weight Vehicles:
  • Vehicles exceeding standard dimensions or weight limits are categorized as over-dimensional or over-weight.
  • Toll charges for Category 5 vehicles are usually higher, reflecting the additional strain they place on the road infrastructure.
• Category 6: Non-Commercial Vehicles (Private Buses, etc.):
  • Non-commercial vehicles that are larger than standard cars but not strictly commercial, such as private buses, may fall into this category.
  • Toll charges for Category 6 vehicles are set based on their size and weight..

Lane Segregation for Different Payment Modes

Toll plazas must implement a lane system to streamline toll collection and manage traffic flow. The lane system includes:

• Cash Lanes: These lanes are designated for cash transactions only. They are equipped to handle cash payments and provide change.
• FASTag Lanes: These lanes are designated for vehicles using FASTag for electronic toll payments. RFID technology is used to automatically deduct toll charges from FASTag accounts.
• Hybrid Lanes: These lanes accommodate both cash and FASTag payments, providing flexibility for users and ensuring efficient processing of all payment types.

Speed Limit at Toll Plazas

Vehicles must maintain a speed typically between 20 km/hr and 40 km/hr at toll plazas. This speed range ensures safe and efficient processing of vehicles through the toll collection system, minimizing congestion and preventing accidents.