Lok Sabha Question No. 2280 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-12
Subject: Toll Charges on Local Transporters
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Sagar Eshwar Khandre

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the Talmood Toll Plaza on NH65,  located  just  23  km  from  Basavakalyan  (Bangla),  imposes  repeated toll charges on local transporters, truck operators and inter-State cargo vehicles;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  of  Karnataka,  transport  unions  or  public representatives  have  requested  for  toll  concessions,  exemptions  or relocation, considering Basavakalyan's role as a major logistics hub with movement of over 18,000 lorries daily;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  financial  burden,  route congestion  and  operational  inefficiency  caused  to  more  than  45,000 transport workers;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  local-user  concessions,  monthly passes or toll rationalisation for Basavakalyan-bound vehicles; and
- (e)  if  not,  the  reasons  for  maintaining  the  current  toll  arrangement affecting this key transit hub?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2280

ANSWERED ON 12 TH  FEBRUARY, 2026

## TOLL CHARGES ON LOCAL TRANSPORTERS

2280.  SHRI SAGAR ESHWAR KHANDRE:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

- (a)  The  user  fee  is  collected  at  a  fee  plaza,  including  the  Talmood  fee Plaza, based on the project influence length of the respective Fee Plaza and not on its specific location within the project influence length,  in accordance with the provisions of National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 and respective Concession Agreement. The base rates for the respective categories of vehicles are uniformly applicable across the country.
- (b) Government  receives representations regarding toll exemption/ concession or location of fee plazas, which are examined and addressed appropriately  as  per  the  extant  rules  and  guidelines.  Moreover,  as  per National  Highways  Fee  (Determination  of  Rates  and  Collection)  Rules, 2008, there are already various provisions for discounts in user fee for non-commercial  vehicles  registered  in  the  district  and  monthly  passes for regular users of National Highways.
- (c)  to  (e)  No  separate  assessment  specific  to  a  particular  category  of workers  has  been  carried  out.  However,  the  Government  from  time  to time  has  reviewed  the  tolling  policy  with  the  objective  of  ensuring  a balanced approach between revenue requirements for highway development and minimizing burden on road users. The National Highways  Fee  (Determination  of  Rates  and  Collection)  Rules,  2008,  as amended,  provide  a  transparent  framework  for  levy  and  collection  of user  fee,  with  rates  linked  to  the  length  of  the  highway  and  type  of vehicle.

In  order  to  reduce  the  burden  on  passengers,  User  fee  discounts  and monthly  passes  are  available  to  National  Highways  users  as  per  the provisions  of  the  National  Highways  Fee  (Determination  of  Rates  and Collection) Rules, 2008.

Further, to minimize the burden on road users and improve affordability, convenience and to lessen congestion on road user, the Government has made  various  provisions  in  the  extant  NH  Fee  Rule,  through  following amendments:

- (i)  GSR 437(E) dated 01.07.2025 to restrict user fee for highways with more structure length,
- (ii) GSR 01(E) dated 31.12.2025 for reduction of rates in case of up gradation from 2 lane paved shoulder highway to 4 or more lane

(iii) G.S.R. 388 (E) dated 17.06.2025 introducing an Annual Pass for non-commercial cars, jeeps, and vans. This scheme offers 200 NH fee  plaza  crossings  or  one  year  validity,  whichever  is  earlier,  by payment of Rs. 3000/- (Rupees three thousand). (iv)  G.S.R.  734  (E)  dated  03.10.2025  for  reduction  in  applicable user  fee  for  vehicles  without  FASTag  or  active  FASTag  vehicles from  2  times  to  1.25  times,  given  the  user  opts  for  payment through UPI; (v) G.S.R. 107 (E) dated 04.02.2026 for the fee payable for the use of a national expressway that is operational for only a part of its notified  length  shall  be  levied  at  a  rate  of  one  time  of  the applicable fee instead of 1.25 times. (vi)  Implementation  of  Multi-Lane  Free  Flow  (MLFF)  tolling:  The Government  has  decided  to  implement  Multi-Lane  Free  Flow (MLFF) Electronic Toll Collection system, which facilitates barrierless  tolling  using  integrated  technologies  including  Automatic Number  Plate  Recognition  (ANPR)  with  AI  analytics  and  RFIDbased Electronic Toll Collection (FASTag), where the user fee shall be  charged  from  the  vehicle  users  without  having  to  stop,  slow down or stay in a given fee plaza lane. (vii)  As  per  National  Highways  Fee  (Determination  of  Rates  and Collection)  Rules,  2008,  there  are  already  various  provisions  for discounts  in  user  fees  and  monthly  passes  for  local  and  regular users of National Highways across the country.

The  Government  is  committed  to  making  the  tolling  system  more efficient,  transparent,  and  user-friendly,  while  simultaneously  ensuring the  availability  of  resources  for  development  and  maintenance  of  the National Highways network.

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