Centre Cuts Toll Charges on Incomplete Expressway Stretches

On 12th February 2026, the Government of India amended the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 to reduce toll charges on partially operational National Expressways, with the revised rules set to take effect from 15th February 2026.

Key Points

Lower Toll Rates Introduced: Under the amendment, when a National Expressway is not fully operational end to end, toll charges will be collected at the lower National Highway rate instead of the higher expressway rate for the completed stretch.
Earlier Higher Charges: Previously, users were required to pay around 25% higher toll for the completed sections of National Expressways due to access-controlled and high-speed travel benefits, even if the entire route was not open.
Encouraging Usage: The decision aims to promote greater use of partially completed expressway stretches and improve traffic distribution across road networks.
Decongestion Objective: Increased usage of open expressway sections is expected to reduce congestion on parallel National Highways, leading to faster logistics movement and smoother passenger travel.
Environmental Benefit: By diverting traffic to less crowded routes, the measure is also expected to contribute to reduced pollution caused by traffic congestion.
Temporary Provision: The amended rule will remain valid for up to 1 year from its implementation or until the expressway becomes fully operational, whichever occurs earlier.
User-Friendly Policy Move: The amendment is part of broader efforts to make highway travel more economical, efficient and seamless for commuters and transporters.