In a significant move aimed at reducing travel costs for commuters, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has revised the toll fee structure for National Highways featuring major infrastructure like tunnels, bridges, flyovers, and elevated roads.
This amendment to the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, introduces a new formula that effectively reduces toll charges by up to 50% for such sections.
The updated rules, notified on July 2, 2025, provide a reworked method for calculating toll charges where 'structures' - defined as standalone bridges, tunnels, flyovers, or elevated highways - exist along the route.
According to the notification, "The rate of fee for use of a section of national highway comprising of structure or structures shall be calculated by adding ten times the length of structure or structures to the length of the section of national highway excluding the length of structure or structures, or five times the total length of section of national highway, whichever is lesser."
To illustrate, the ministry cited an example: if a highway stretch spans 40 kilometers and consists solely of structures, the toll calculation would compare two values - ten times the length of the structure (10 x 40 = 400 km) and five times the total section length (5 x 40 = 200 km). Since the lesser value is used, tolls would be charged on the basis of 200 kilometers instead of 400, effectively halving the toll fee.
Previously, under the existing system, motorists were charged ten times the normal rate for each kilometer of structure.
A senior official from the National Highway Authority of India explained that the earlier pricing model was designed to recoup the higher construction costs associated with such infrastructure.
However, the newly amended policy aims to balance infrastructure recovery costs with relief for users. The official noted that the revised formula would bring down toll charges by up to 50% on sections that include flyovers, tunnels, and underpasses.
This change is expected to provide significant cost savings for motorists and promote smoother travel across India's rapidly expanding highway network.