Toll Rules: The Central Government has made revolutionary changes to toll rules, giving millions of motorists the biggest gift of the New Year 2026. Now, if road widening work is underway during your journey, you will not be required to pay the full toll. According to a new notification from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, travellers will receive a direct toll relief of up to 70% until the construction work is completed. Learn about these new ‘National Highway Fee Rules’ and how they will ease your burden.
Major Decision by the Road Ministry
It has often been observed that when road widening work is underway on national highways, travellers face heavy traffic jams, dust, and inconvenience. Despite this, they were charged the full amount at toll plazas. To address this legitimate public complaint, the government has made major amendments to the National Highway Fee (Fixation and Collection) Rules, 2008.
Now, according to the new rules, if a two-lane highway is being converted to a four-lane or more highway, only 30 percent of the toll will be charged from travellers from the start of construction until the project is completed. This means you will directly save a whopping 70 percent.
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When will this rule come into effect
The government has issued an official notification regarding this matter, and the rule will take effect nationwide from the new year. Most importantly, this rule will apply not only to future projects, but also to all existing highways currently undergoing the upgrade of two-lane roads to four-lane roads.
Officials say that approximately 25,000 to 30,000 kilometers of national highways across the country are planned to be upgraded. The government is investing approximately ₹10 lakh crore in developing this massive infrastructure to increase the share of logistics in the country from 40% to 80%.
Relief will also be provided if a four-lane road is converted to a six-lane road
The government has not only addressed the needs of two-lane roads, but has also provided relief to commuters traveling on major highways. Under the revised rules, if a four-lane highway is being converted to a six- or eight-lane road, a 25 percent discount will be provided on the toll tax. Drivers on such roads will only have to pay 75 percent of the prescribed toll. This step has been taken to compensate travellers for the inconvenience caused by construction, providing them with financial benefits.
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What else is special about the existing rules
It should be noted that the government already has a rule in place that, if the full cost of constructing a road or bridge is recovered, the toll tax automatically reduces to 40 percent. Now, with these new amendments, traveling on Indian roads will not only be faster but also significantly cheaper. This masterstroke of the government will not only save money in the pockets of the common man but will also put pressure on the road construction companies to complete the work on time.