New highways and expressways are being built rapidly to make road transport smooth and safe in India. These roads not only reduce travel time but also play an important role in economic development. The construction of new highways increases travel speed and helps people reach their destinations easily. But, along with this, the issue of toll tax is also increasing. When people reach these toll tax, often they try to avoid paying toll tax.
What is toll tax
Toll tax (toll tax rule) is the fee charged for traveling on a particular road, especially a highway or expressway. The company that builds and maintains that road or NHAI charges this amount. The main purpose of toll tax is to raise the funds required for the operation and maintenance of these roads.
Ways to avoid toll tax
Many times people think that they can cross the toll tax without paying toll tax. However, this is possible, but there are some conditions for this. According to an old tweet by NHAI, if the line of vehicles at the toll post becomes 100 meters long, those vehicles can be taken out without toll tax. This not only controls the traffic but also provides convenience to the passengers.
NHAI Toll Collection Policy
NHAI (NHAI Toll Rules) told in a tweet in 2021 that the maximum time for toll payment has been fixed at 10 seconds (Toll 10 Second Rule). This means that if it takes more than 10 seconds to get the payment at the toll post, then the vehicles can be taken out of the toll post.
This rule is especially applicable during peak hours. A yellow strip is drawn at a distance of 100 meters in the toll lane so that when the line of vehicles starts going out of this line, the toll is made free. When the line of vehicles again comes within 100 meters, then the toll tax starts being collected again.
60 km rule
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways says that according to the Fee Rules 2008, the distance between two toll plazas on any highway should be 60 km. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has confirmed this.
His goal is to have only one toll plaza on the highway within a radius of 60 km. However, the ministry has also clarified that due to lack of space, traffic, and congestion, sometimes there can be two toll plazas within a radius of 60 km.
Difference between toll tax and road tax
There is a lot of difference between toll tax and road tax. Road tax is the amount that the driver pays to the RTO (State Road Transport Office). This amount is for the use of various roads within the state. Whereas, toll tax is collected only on highways or expressways. This amount does not go to any one state government but is collected by the highway construction company or NHAI.