By News Karnataka
In a move set to ease travel costs for commuters, the central government has announced a significant reduction in toll rates—up to 50%—for national highway stretches that include high-cost structures such as tunnels, bridges, flyovers, and elevated roads.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has amended the National Highways Fee Rules, 2008, introducing a new method to calculate user charges on such stretches. The revised toll formula was officially notified on July 2, 2025.
According to the new rule, toll will now be computed based on whichever is lesser:
Ten times the length of the structure(s), plus the rest of the highway section (excluding the structure), or
For example, if a 40-km highway consists entirely of an elevated road, the old rule would calculate the toll as 10 x 40 = 400 km. Under the new rule, it’s capped at 5 x 40 = 200 km. So the toll is halved.
A senior NHAI official clarified that earlier charges were steep to offset the high cost of building such infrastructure. However, the revised formula brings major relief to daily commuters and long-distance travelers alike.
This change is expected to make travel more affordable across modern highway corridors, especially in metro-adjacent zones packed with elevated stretches.