Now, Automatically Pay Double, Risk Additional Penalties for Toll Evasion at Checkpoints: New Govt Rule

Drivers who pass through toll plazas without making a payment will soon be automatically charged double the amount, and could face even harsher penalties if they refuse to make payments, as part of a new government initiative. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has announced a new, technology-enabled toll collection compliance initiative across India to tackle cases of non-payment at toll plazas, especially barrier-free checkpoints.

The framework has been announced in the ministry’s new National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026 notification, and has come into immediate effect.

Under the new rules, digital toll collection enforcement has been stepped up with a structured recovery mechanism. A new “unpaid user fee” has also been instituted, and will be applicable to vehicles that have passed through an electronic toll collection checkpoint but has not made the required payment. Toll fees are already double for those who decline to use FASTag or do not have sufficient funds in their wallets, and instead pay in cash.

The owners of vehicles flagged by the systems will receive an electronic notification (e-challan) via SMS, email, or other channels, and will be available via a mobile application and website. Cars and their owners will be identified automatically using the national Vahan database. Notifications will include the car details, place and time of payment failure, and the amount due.

Car owners will have a 72-hour grace period to pay the original toll amount, after which they will be charged double. This will be helpful in case of toll sensor malfunctions, issues with FASTag recharges, and genuine mistakes or emergencies. However, if a user takes more than 15 days to settle dues, they could face unspecified restrictions on “vehicle-related services” which would be imposed through the Vahan system.

According to MoRTH, the new system will strengthen toll collection enforcement and make the process more transparent and efficient. Car owners who wish to lodge a complaint or contest an e-challan may do so through the same website within 72 hours of receiving it. The relevant authorities must respond within five days.

The news comes just days after MoRTH raised the cost of the FASTag Annual Pass by a small amount. In January, this year, it was made mandatory for car owners to clear pending toll dues in order to obtain a fitness certificate or transfer ownership of a vehicle. The ministry also carried out a nationwide campaign last year to get registered owners to update their mobile phone numbers, in order to receive e-challans reliably, among other goals.