Government Slashes Toll Rates by Up to 50% on Highways with Bridges, Tunnels & Flyovers.
National
On July 2, 2025, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways amended the National Highways Fee Rules (2008), reducing toll charges by up to 50% on highway stretches where over 50% consists of bridges, tunnels, elevated roads, or flyovers.
- Previously, tolls on such sections were calculated at 10 × the structure length, to offset elevated construction costs. Under the new rule, tolls will now be based on the lesser of (10 × structure length + normal road) or (5 × total section length)—effectively halving many fees.
- For example, on a 40 km fully elevated highway, the old toll formula charged over 400 km’s equivalent, but now it’s reduced to 200 km equivalent, resulting in 50% savings for commuters.
Main Point :- (i) This reform especially benefits urban expressways with high infrastructure density, such as flyover-studded ring roads and tunnels on the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway corridor, easing costs for both private and commercial vehicles.
(ii) The reduced tolls will apply to all users—FASTag-enabled or not—and are expected to significantly lower logistics costs, boost intercity travel, and encourage the use of national highways in congestion-prone areas.
(iii) The policy update was formally notified on July 2, 2025, by the Ministry, marking a key step in its broader toll rationalisation efforts—alongside upcoming initiatives like annual FASTag passes (₹3,000/year) and distance-based GNSS tolling.
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