Toll Tax Update: Key Rule to Avoid Fees at Toll Plazas, Says NHAI

In India, millions travel daily on national and state highways, paying toll charges for road maintenance. However, toll fees aren’t uniform across expressways or highways. There’s a specific rule that, if understood correctly, can allow drivers to skip paying tolls altogether. Here’s what you need to know about NHAI’s toll plaza rules to potentially avoid paying fees.

Understanding the Toll Rule for Free Passage

Every day, drivers encounter toll plazas, facing delays and long queues to pay toll tax. To streamline this process, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) implemented a rule in 2021 to reduce wait times. According to this rule, no vehicle should have to wait for more than 10 seconds at a toll booth. If the wait time exceeds 10 seconds, drivers are allowed to pass without paying the toll fee.

Conditions for Toll Exemption

10-Second Wait Rule: If you’re held up at the toll booth for over 10 seconds due to traffic, the toll becomes free. Drivers experiencing issues at toll booths can contact NHAI’s helpline at 1033.

100-Meter Queue Rule: The rule also states that if a vehicle queue extends within 100 meters of the toll plaza, no toll fee will be charged. However, this is only valid if a visible yellow strip marks the 100-meter boundary. Vehicles outside this marked area won’t be charged.

Faulty Fast-Tag Machine: Drivers can also avoid paying tolls if the toll plaza’s Fast-Tag scanner isn’t functioning properly.

By understanding these conditions, drivers can save time and money, making travel on Indian highways a bit smoother.