Toll reduced by up to 50% on elevated highway stretches for commuters

Toll Slashed by Up to 50% on Elevated Highways: Big Relief for Commuters

New Delhi, July 5: In a major relief for highway commuters and commercial vehicle operators, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has announced a significant reduction—up to 50%—in toll rates on elevated highway sections, including bridges, flyovers, tunnels, and corridors.

This move is set to benefit daily commuters, truckers, bus operators, and taxi fleets who routinely use National Highway stretches with heavy infrastructure. The announcement came via a new notification issued by the ministry on Tuesday.

💸 What’s Changed?

Until now, tolls on structured highway sections were calculated at up to 10 times the standard fee, to help recover construction costs of elevated segments. However, under the new simplified formula, tolls will be computed on the lower of two values:

10x the length of structures + normal road length

5x the total length of the section

For example, on a 40 km highway with 30 km of elevated roads, the earlier toll would have been based on 310 km of chargeable distance. Under the new rule, that figure drops to 200 km—significantly lowering the toll.

🚗 Immediate Benefits for Key Routes

A ministry official stated that this revision will lead to immediate savings on routes like:

Delhi–Dehradun Expressway (with a 15-km wildlife corridor)

Nashik Phata–Khed section

Danapur–Bihta corridor

Dwarka Expressway (28.5 km of heavy infrastructure)

In many of these cases, commercial vehicles will see their toll bills cut in half.

🕒 When Will It Take Effect?

New toll plazas will implement the rule immediately

Existing public-funded plazas will apply it during their next scheduled revision

Concessionaire-run tolls will shift to the new model after contract completion

🚛 Big Gains for Commercial Operators

Commercial vehicles, which usually pay 4–5 times the toll charged to cars, will benefit the most. Private car owners, however, can also opt for an annual toll pass at just ₹3,000.

For instance, a one-way car journey now costs ₹292 at the revised ₹1.46/km rate, as per the National Highways Fee Rules (2008). But for trucks and buses, the cost savings are even more substantial.

✅ Final Word

As road users welcome the move, experts are calling it a "much-needed correction" to rising road usage costs. With lower tolls on elevated highways, this decision not only eases financial strain but also encourages smoother logistics and faster travel—truly proving that, at times, shortcuts do pay off on Indian highways.