---
title: "Toll Plaza Rules in India: Your Rights at NH Plazas"
url: "https://raahguide.com/fastag/toll-rules/"
canonical: "https://raahguide.com/fastag/toll-rules/"
updated: "2026-11-09"
source: "RaahGuide FASTag guide"
---

# Toll Plaza Rules in India: Your Rights at NH Plazas

Is the 100-metre, 10-second toll rule still valid? Who is exempt from toll, the 60 km spacing rule, wrong deductions, and how to complain via the 1033 helpline.

This page covers what the National Highways Fee Rules, 2008 and NHAI's own circulars actually guarantee you at an NH toll plaza. It also covers several popular "rules" that no longer apply, or never did.

## The 10-second / 100-metre rule: no longer in force

### What it was

On **26–27 May 2021**, NHAI issued guidelines for toll plazas:

- a target **service time of no more than 10 seconds** per vehicle, even at peak hours;
- a **yellow line 100 metres** from the booth in every lane;
- if the queue went **beyond 100 metres**, vehicles were to be **let through without paying** until the queue came back within 100 metres.

### What happened to it

In **August 2024**, NHAI **removed the "service time at toll plazas" provision** from its toll plaza guidelines. Business Standard and Construction World (citing TOI) reported this. NHAI's reasoning was that the NH Fee Rules, 2008, which are the binding law, contain **no exemption based on queue length**, so the circular had no legal footing. As a replacement, NHAI started **live monitoring at 100 plazas** where waits often went past five minutes, chosen by number of complaints.

In **September 2026**, NHAI repeated the point in response to viral posts: a queue longer than 100 metres or a wait of more than three minutes **does not** entitle you to cross without paying. The yellow line may still be painted at some plazas, but it is a congestion marker for the operator, not a right for the driver.

**What you can do instead:** if a plaza is badly congested or lanes are closed, complain on **1033** or in the Rajmargyatra app. Note the plaza name, time and lane. Do not drive through without paying. Rule 14 lets the operator stop a non-paying vehicle and have it removed if it blocks traffic.

## Who is exempt from toll (Rule 11)

Rule 11 is the **complete** list. If you're not on it, you pay.

**1. Vehicles carrying or escorting these people** (with security vehicles):

- President, Vice-President, Prime Minister
- Governors, Lieutenant Governors, Chief Ministers
- Chief Justice of India, Supreme Court judges, High Court Chief Justices and judges
- Speaker of the Lok Sabha; Union Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State
- Members of Parliament
- Chairman of a state Legislative Council, Speaker of a state Assembly
- **MLAs and MLCs, within their own state, on showing their legislature ID card**
- Chiefs of Staff (full General or equivalent), Army Commanders or Vice-Chief and equivalents
- Chief Secretary (within the state), Secretaries to the Government of India, Secretaries of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha
- Foreign dignitaries on a state visit
- **Winners of the Param Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra, on showing an authenticated photo ID**

**2. Vehicles on official duty of:**

- the Ministry of Defence (including under the Indian Tolls (Army and Air Force) Act, 1901, extended to the Navy);
- Central and state armed forces in uniform, including paramilitary forces and police;
- an executive magistrate;
- fire services;
- NHAI or its agents, for inspection, survey, construction or maintenance.

**3. Always exempt:**

- ambulances;
- funeral vans;
- vehicles **specially designed and built** for a person with a physical disability.

**Not on the list:** journalists, lawyers, doctors, ex-servicemen (other than the gallantry award winners above), local politicians below MLA, and government employees using a private vehicle for personal travel. Autocar India reported in April 2026 that ID-card waivers on personal trips are being ended, and that eligible government departments are being asked to use **exempted FASTags** instead.

## The 60 km spacing rule

**What the law says.** Rule 8(2): another fee plaza on the **same section and in the same direction** "shall not be established within a distance of sixty kilometers". There are two exceptions:

- the authority may allow a closer plaza **for reasons recorded in writing**;
- a plaza collecting fee for a **permanent bridge, bypass or tunnel** can be within 60 km.

Rule 8(1) also says a plaza should normally be **more than 10 km from municipal or town limits**. It can never be closer than 5 km, unless the road was built mainly for that town's residents.

**The 2022 promise.** On **22 March 2022**, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari told the Lok Sabha that plazas within 60 km of each other would be closed within three months.

**The reality.** Because of the exceptions, a plaza closer than 60 km is **not automatically illegal**. As of November 2026 we have not found an official list of plazas closed under the 2022 announcement. If you think a plaza breaks Rule 8, you can raise it with NHAI or file an RTI asking for the written reasons. You can't refuse to pay at the plaza.

## Other rights you have at a plaza

- **Fee display (Rule 12).** The fee must be shown in Hindi and English **1 km before** the plaza, and in English and the local language **500 m before**. If it isn't displayed, complain.
- **Correct class.** You pay for your vehicle's registered class. Private cars, jeeps, vans and SUVs are all in the lowest class. If you're charged a higher class, keep the SMS and complain.
- **Return within 24 hours.** You are entitled to the return-journey rate: 1.5 times the one-way fee instead of 2 times (Rule 9(2)).
- **No FASTag.** Since 15 November 2025 you can pay **1.25 times** the toll by UPI. The cash rate was 2 times, and cash has been reported as **discontinued from 10 April 2026**. See [the FASTag hub](/fastag/) for details.
- **Refund of excess collection (Rule 13).** If you're overcharged, you can complain to the officer authorised by the government or NHAI. After hearing both sides, the officer **must order a refund and damages within 30 days** if you were overcharged. The operator also pays a 25% penalty on the excess.

## Where to complain

| Problem | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Anything at an NH plaza: queues, rude staff, wrong rate, closed lanes | **1033** National Highways helpline (24×7, toll-free) |
| Wrong or double FASTag deduction | Your **FASTag issuer bank's** helpline, and email **falsededuction@ihmcl.com** |
| Annual pass or local pass issues | **Rajmargyatra app** grievance section, or 1033 |
| Excess fee not refunded | Written complaint under **Rule 13** to the officer authorised by the government or NHAI |

PIB (July 2026) lists all four channels: 1033, the falsededuction@ihmcl.com email, issuer bank helplines and the Rajmargyatra app.

**For a quicker result, include:** vehicle number, plaza name, date and time, lane number if known, the FASTag transaction ID or SMS, and the amount charged versus the amount you expected.

## FAQ

### Is the 100 metre toll free rule still valid?

No. NHAI removed the 2021 provision in August 2024, saying the NH Fee Rules 2008 have no queue-based exemption. In September 2026 NHAI again clarified that a long queue does not give free passage.

### Can I pass without paying if I wait more than 10 seconds at a toll plaza?

No. The 10-second figure was a service-time target for operators, not a right to free passage, and the provision was withdrawn in August 2024.

### Who is exempt from paying toll on national highways?

Only the categories in Rule 11 of the NH Fee Rules 2008: listed dignitaries and their security vehicles, defence, armed forces and police on duty, executive magistrates, fire services, NHAI vehicles on duty, ambulances, funeral vans, and vehicles specially built for people with disabilities.

### Is there a rule that toll plazas must be 60 km apart?

Rule 8 says another plaza on the same section in the same direction should not be within 60 km, but it allows exceptions for bridges, bypasses, tunnels and written reasons. So some plazas are legally closer than 60 km.

### What is the NHAI toll complaint number?

1033, the 24x7 National Highways helpline. You can also email falsededuction@ihmcl.com for wrong FASTag deductions, call your FASTag bank, or use the Rajmargyatra app.

### How do I get a refund for wrong FASTag deduction?

Raise it with your FASTag issuer bank and email falsededuction@ihmcl.com with the transaction details, or call 1033. For excess fee collected, Rule 13 lets you complain to the authorised officer, who must decide on refund and damages within 30 days.

### Are journalists or ex-servicemen exempt from toll?

No. They are not in the Rule 11 list. Gallantry award winners (Param Vir Chakra to Shaurya Chakra) are exempt if they show the authenticated photo ID.

## Sources

- [National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, consolidated text (Rules 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14)](https://www.legitquest.com/act/national-highways-fee-determination-of-rates-and-collection-rules-2008/9B4C) (accessed 2026-11-09)
- [CarWale: NHAI takes steps to limit waiting time to 10 seconds at toll plazas (27 May 2021)](https://www.carwale.com/news/nhai-takes-steps-to-limit-waiting-time-to-10-seconds-at-toll-plazas/) (accessed 2026-11-09)
- [Business Standard: NHAI repeals 100m exemption rule for new toll plazas (21 Aug 2024)](https://www.business-standard.com/economy/news/nhai-withdraws-free-flow-policy-for-new-toll-plazas-amid-regulatory-issues-124082100712_1.html) (accessed 2026-11-09)
- [Construction World (TOI): NHAI revokes policy, introduces live monitoring at 100 plazas (30 Aug 2024)](https://www.constructionworld.in/transport-infrastructure/highways-and-roads-infrastructure/nhai-revokes-policy;-introduces-live-monitoring-at-100-plazas/61624/) (accessed 2026-11-09)
- [OdishaConnect: 100-metre toll queue does not mean free passage, NHAI clarifies (25 Sep 2026)](https://odishaconnect.com/100-metre-toll-queue-free-passage-nhai-clarification/) (accessed 2026-11-09)
- [Deccan Herald: Not more than one toll plaza within 60 km, Gadkari (22 Mar 2022)](https://www.deccanherald.com/india/not-more-than-one-toll-plaza-within-60-kms-gadkari-1093687.html) (accessed 2026-11-09)
- [PIB: FASTag based toll collection and digital tolling system, grievance channels (22 Jul 2026)](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2287760) (accessed 2026-11-09)
- [PIB: How MoRTH Toll Policies Are Redefining the Highway Experience (14 Jan 2026)](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2214528) (accessed 2026-11-09)
- [PIB: New User Fee Collection Rule for Non-FASTag Users (4 Oct 2025)](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2174761) (accessed 2026-11-09)
- [Autocar India: Cash payment to end at toll plazas from April 10 (6 Apr 2026)](https://www.autocarindia.com/industry-amp/cash-payment-to-end-at-toll-plazas-from-april-10-439385) (accessed 2026-11-09)