If you pass through a part of a National Expressway which is not yet fully opened, then now you will not have to pay much toll. The central government has changed the toll rules. Passengers will get direct benefit from this. Now the rule is that when a National Expressway has not been started completely end-to-end, then toll on its open portion will be charged at the normal rate of the National Highway.
Earlier, 25% more toll was charged on the expressway, whether the road was completed or not. The government has made this change by amending the National Highway Fees (Rate Determination and Collection) Rules, 2008. The new rule will come into effect from 15 February 2026. This arrangement will remain in place for one year or until the expressway is fully operational, whichever is earlier.
The government says that with this people will use the incomplete but open expressway stretches more. This will reduce congestion on old highways, travel will be faster and pollution will also reduce due to reduction in traffic jams. In a post from NHAI, it has been said that the government has changed the National Highway Fee rules for the existing expressways to some extent.
In this, the government has notified changes in the National Highway Fees (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 for the users of National Expressways which are operational only to some extent. Under the new rule, when a National Expressway is not opened from beginning to end, toll fees will be charged at a lower rate for the entire length. As applicable for National Highway sections under the National Highway Fees (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.
The objective of this change is to promote greater utilization of existing expressway stretches, reduce congestion along the existing National Highways, enable faster movement of goods and passengers and reduce pollution caused by traffic jams. These changes, which will be implemented from February 15, are another initiative of the government, which will make travel easier and cheaper for the users of National Highways and Expressways.
