Toll Plaza 10-Second Rule: NHAI Toll Plaza Rules have been in the news ever since Union Road Transport Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari took charge, who is responsible for changing the map of Indian National Highways in recent years.
Anyone who travels long distances definitely crosses toll plazas in India. Some people have to cross the toll plaza daily while commuting to work. These toll plazas levy a toll on travel expenses. NHAI Toll Plaza Rules have been in the news ever since Union Road Transport Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari took charge, who is responsible for changing the map of Indian National Highways in recent years. In the coming days, when new toll plaza rules will be implemented through GPS tolling, then these toll booths may not even be visible. Let us know what is important for us to know according to the toll plaza guidelines.
Understand the toll plaza
It is the duty of the government to build roads and highways. The government gets the road built either by itself or through a private contractor. Its purpose is to provide easy travel on the roads to the people of India. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) manages the national highways connecting various states in India. NHAI toll plaza rules include passing of tender for road construction by an agency, making way for the road through land acquisition if necessary, actual construction and then inauguration. It takes money to build anything and Indian roads are no different. That’s why toll gates are made later. Those who charge passengers, that is, from people traveling on newly built roads. Toll plaza is the only way to recover the cost of road construction.
What is the rule of toll tax in India?
NHAI toll plaza guidelines mandate payment of National Highway Fee. Toll tax is different for different vehicles. It may be noted that the new toll plaza rules differ between states as well. There is some relief from toll plaza rules for local residents while commercial vehicles are charged more than private vehicles. Generally government officials, even Padma Shri award winners are not exempted as per the new toll plaza rules in India except in the Toll Plaza Exemption List 2022.
Some rules of toll plaza that not everyone knows
- No toll tax after 10 seconds – Toll plaza rules have abolished the need to pay toll for those who have FASTag and still have to wait for service time of more than 10 seconds.
- Toll plaza rules allow vehicles to pass without paying toll if the waiting line is longer than 100 metres.
- Every toll lane should have a yellow stripe at a distance of 100 meters from the toll booth.
- FASTag – Electronic toll collection at toll plazas was introduced in recent years. However, this has been made mandatory as per the NHAI toll plaza rules of last year. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is used for FASTag toll payment.
Proposed rule
- The Union Transport Minister had announced the closure of toll plazas with a distance of less than 60 km. There will be only one toll booth within 60 kms.
- Government officials had announced plans to introduce GPS-based tolling last year.
Is it toll free for local residents?
Local residents and frequent users enjoy concessions as per NHAI Toll Rules 2022. However, these relief toll plaza rules may not be uniform across India.
Can we pass toll without FASTag?
According to the new Toll Plaza Rules 2022, it is necessary for vehicle owners to have FASTag. But the authorities cannot restrict the movement of people who do not have FASTag. Such users will have to pay double the amount for the category in which their vehicle falls.
