New Toll Rules: The central government has introduced a revision in toll charges for National Highways (NH) across India, effective from February 15. This follows changes to the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, implemented by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
Under the updated rules, toll fees for National Expressways will be charged at a reduced rate for any incomplete sections, only applying the higher expressway toll once the entire route is fully operational.
Currently, tolls on National Expressways are set 25 per cent higher than those on regular National Highways for completed stretches, owing to their controlled access, which ensures faster and more comfortable travel. This higher toll is applied even if the expressway is not fully open.
The new rule, however, ensures that when a National Expressway is not open end-to-end, the toll will be levied only on the completed stretch, and at a rate in line with that of a National Highway, rather than the higher expressway rate.
This change is designed to encourage users to take advantage of the available sections of National Expressways, helping to ease congestion on parallel National Highway routes. It is expected to support the smoother movement of goods and passengers, as well as reduce pollution caused by traffic on older highways.
The revised toll rule will remain in effect for one year from the date of implementation or until the expressway is fully operational, whichever comes first.
National Highways Toll Charges: Key Changes
The National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, have been amended through a notification issued on February 12, 2026. The revisions include:
- You will only pay tolls for the operational sections you use.
- The higher toll for National Expressways will only be charged once the full corridor is open to traffic.