The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has introduced a revised framework under the National Highways Fee Rules, 2026 which aims to tighten the recovery of unpaid toll charges across India. The updated rules came into force on March 17, 2026, following the notification of the National Highways Fee Rules, 2026.
The government has come up with a formal recovery mechanism to track pending user fees, with the latest amendments. The move is aligned with the shift towards barrier-free tolling systems and is expected to improve transparency and efficiency in toll collection on national highways.
At the heart of the new system is a technology-driven e-notice mechanism, introduced under Rule 14. Vehicle owners who fail to pay toll charges will receive an electronic notice detailing key information such as vehicle number, date and location of travel, and the outstanding amount.
Authorities will send these notices via SMS, email, mobile applications and other digital channels. Users will also have the option to access their notices through a dedicated online portal.
The rules specify that unpaid toll charges will attract a penalty of twice the original amount. However, if the dues are cleared within 72 hours of receiving the notice, only the base toll amount will be payable, with no additional charges.
If the dues remain unpaid for more than 15 days and no dispute is raised, the outstanding amount will be recorded in the VAHAN database. This may result in restrictions on vehicle-related services, effectively preventing further transactions until the dues are cleared.
Vehicle owners who believe a notice has been issued incorrectly can raise a complaint within 72 hours. The concerned authority is required to resolve such grievances within five days. If no action is taken within this period, the claim will automatically lapse.
The ministry, to strengthen enforcement, has mandated the integration of the National Electronic Toll Collection system with the VAHAN database. This linkage will help authorities identify vehicles more efficiently and ensure timely recovery of pending toll charges.
