Using an incomplete national expressway stretch will now be cheaper as the ministry of road transport and highways on Thursday lowered toll rates for such corridors under an amendment to the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.
“Under this, when a National Expressway is not open end to end, the toll fee will be charged for the completed length at a lower rate as applicable for the national highway. The amended rules will come into effect from February 15, 2026,” the ministry stated in its notification.
So far, toll rates on national expressways were 25 percent more than normal national highway fee for the completed length as they provide access-controlled, faster and seamless travel experience. This fee is levied
for the completed section even if the expressway is not fully open along its entire length.
The move effectively removes the 25 percent premium for unfinished corridors, addressing criticism that users were paying full expressway rates without end-to-end access.
According to the ministry, when a national expressway is not open end to end, the toll fee will be charged for the completed length at a lower rate as applicable for the national highway section.
It said the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) (Amendment) Rules, 2026 is aimed at promoting the use of national expressways, so that commuters travel through the open stretches while helping to decongest existing national highway routes parallel to these expressways. The step will not only allow faster movement of logistics and passengers but reduce pollution due to traffic congestion on old national highways, it said. The revised toll structure will remain in effect for up to one year from the date of notification, or until the expressway is completely operational, whichever comes earlier, it added.
The ministry further termed this amendment “another Government of India initiative to make journeys more seamless and economical” for the users of national highways and expressways, several of which have been opened in phases before full completion – Chennai-Bengaluru, Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Katra, and Amritsar-Jamnagar.
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