Toll-free travel: No need to pay at toll plazas… Do you know this rule?

 

Toll-Free Travel | To travel on roads, you have to pay fees at toll plazas. But for some, this burden is reduced. Find out what that rule is.

Toll-Free Travel: Lakhs of vehicles ply on national highways and state highways in the country every day. Drivers have to pay toll charges at nearly a thousand toll plazas. But there is one important thing that many people do not know. Those living within a radius of 20 km from a toll plaza can travel without paying toll charges. This is a provision brought by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to reduce the cost borne by local travelers.

What is the 20 km rule? According to NHAI, if the vehicle owner’s house is within 20 km from the toll plaza, that person can get exemption from toll charges. To avail this facility, government documents like Aadhaar and electricity bill have to be provided.

This exemption is part of the “Pay as you use” policy, which uses GNSS tracking technology. The policy is being implemented on a pilot basis on some highways from 24 September 2024. The aim is to reduce travel costs for locals and rapidly scale up digital tolling across the country.

There is an automatic exemption for some vehicles. These include central and state government vehicles, police vehicles, ambulances, fire brigade vehicles, Army, Navy, Air Force vehicles, and vehicles engaged in NDRF rescue operations. This exemption will help them to continue their journey without any delay in case of emergency.

Not only regular government vehicles, but also two-wheeler passengers are completely exempted from toll charges. Since bikes put less burden on the road and do not require FASTag, toll is not collected on them. Pedestrian passengers are also completely exempted. With these rules, NHAI aims to make travel easy, smooth and cost-effective for local residents, emergency services and light vehicles.