New Delhi, April 14: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has announced changes to toll regulations for overloaded vehicles on national highways. These new rules are notified under the ‘National Highway Fee (Rate Determination and Collection) Fourth Amendment Rules, 2026.’
The new regulations will come into effect on April 15, 2026. Their primary aim is to control overloading, enhance road safety, and ensure the integrity of highway infrastructure.
Under the revised rules, toll fees will be determined based on the percentage of overloading. Vehicles carrying up to 10% extra weight will not incur any additional charges. However, if a vehicle is overloaded by more than 10% but less than 40%, it will be required to pay double the base rate.
For vehicles exceeding a 40% overload, the toll fee will be quadrupled. The regulations also specify that overloading checks will be conducted using certified weighing equipment at toll plazas. If a toll plaza lacks weighing facilities, no overload charges will be applied there.
Additionally, overload fees will only be collected via FASTag, and details of such vehicles will be recorded in the National Vehicle Register. Vehicles entering national highways without a valid FASTag will face penalties as per existing regulations.
These new rules will not apply to certain private investment projects already in operation unless the respective concessionaire agrees to adopt them.
To clarify the toll calculation process, the government has provided examples to help understand how overload fees will be determined for different vehicles.
The government believes that these new regulations will reduce overloading, minimize road damage, and facilitate safer and smoother freight transportation. Furthermore, the implementation of Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) technology will allow for the measurement of vehicle weight while in motion, making the process even more efficient and transparent.
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