The government has tightened rules for barrier-free toll plazas on national highways.
Now, if a vehicle passes a toll plaza without paying due to a faulty FASTag or low balance, the owner must pay the toll within 72 hours.
Failure to do so will result in a penalty of double the toll amount.
These changes are part of amendments to the National Highways Fee Rules, aimed at preventing toll evasion and ensuring accountability for both users and toll operators.
How the System Works
The new rules define “unpaid user fee” as toll charges recorded electronically but not paid.
Vehicle owners will receive an electronic notice with details such as:
Vehicle number
Date and location of travel
Amount due
Notices will be sent via SMS, email, mobile apps, and will also be accessible on a dedicated online portal.
The system is linked with the VAHAN database to ensure accurate identification and tracking of unpaid tolls.
To encourage timely payments:
Pay within 72 hours → only the original toll is charged
Pay after 72 hours → toll amount is doubled
Complaint and Enforcement Mechanism
Vehicle owners can challenge the notice within 72 hours through the designated portal.
Toll agencies must resolve complaints within five days.
If unresolved, the claim automatically lapses.
If an unpaid fee remains unsettled for more than 15 days with no pending complaint, the amount will be recorded in the VAHAN system.
This may lead to restrictions on vehicle-related services, such as:
Renewal or transfer of registration certificates
Other government services linked to the vehicle
What This Means for Drivers
The new system ensures that barrier-free tolling is fully accountable.
Drivers need to:
Keep FASTag balances sufficient
Pay tolls promptly to avoid penalties
Track notices via SMS, email, or the portal
These updates make toll collection faster, transparent, and stricter, while giving users a clear mechanism to dispute any errors.
