NHAI Repeals 100m Exemption Rule for New Toll Plazas

In a recent policy shift, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has revoked a controversial provision on waiting time at toll plaza introduced in May 2021, which mandated that toll plaza operators lift barriers and allow vehicles to pass without payment if the queue extended beyond 100 meters. This rule, part of a broader effort to improve toll plaza efficiency, had faced significant criticism for its lack of enforcement and resulted in widespread non-compliance.

The original 2021 guidelines required that service time at toll plazas be less than 10 seconds per vehicle during peak flow, and that queues in any lane not exceed 100 meters from the toll booth. To enforce this, barriers were to be lifted if the queue exceeded 100 meters, allowing vehicles to pass toll-free until the backlog was cleared. A yellow line was to mark the 100-meter threshold in each lane as a visual reference.

Despite its introduction amid public fanfare, the policy was rarely enforced, leading to numerous complaints and questions in Parliament. Critics argued that the measure was impractical and difficult to implement consistently.

In the latest update, NHAI has clarified that the provision related to queue lengths and service times has been removed, as it does not align with the National Highways Fee Rules 2008. The decision reflects ongoing efforts to streamline toll plaza operations and address public concerns.

To improve toll plaza management and reduce waiting times, NHAI has introduced a live monitoring system at 100 toll plazas where waiting times exceed five minutes. This new system aims to enable immediate action to manage queues more effectively. The toll plazas selected for this system were chosen based on commuter complaints, and NHAI plans to expand live surveillance to additional locations in the future.