New Concessional Toll Rules Set for November

Private vehicle owners residing within a 20-kilometre radius of National Highway toll plazas will soon be able to benefit from a revised concessional annual toll pass scheme. Introduced by the Central Government, the updated framework aims to ease regular travel burdens for local residents living in close proximity to major highway fee plazas.

The policy changes, officially announced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, come under the newly notified National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2026. These updates supersede the previous regulatory framework established in 2008.

Fee Structure and Eligibility Requirements

Effective November 1, 2026, qualifying motorists can acquire an annual pass tailored to the specific location of their nearby toll plaza. The government has established a two-tiered pricing structure:

* ₹1,500 Per Annum: Applicable for eligible toll plazas situated outside municipal or local town limits. * ₹3,000 Per Annum: Applicable for toll plazas located within municipal or local town limits.

To qualify for the scheme, applicants must own non-commercial private vehicles registered with valid and functional FASTags. Furthermore, the issued pass will remain exclusively valid for the specific toll plaza for which it has been registered.

Exemptions and Restrictions

While the scheme provides financial relief for many commuters, the Ministry has outlined strict limitations regarding its applicability. The concessional local passes will not be issued on National Highways or Expressways that utilize a closed user fee collection system.

Additionally, vehicle owners residing near toll plazas where a designated service road or an alternative public road is readily available for daily use will not be eligible for the discounted annual pass. The Ministry emphasizes that the initiative is carefully calibrated to support local residents where alternative transit infrastructure is lacking.