Passes & discounts · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-15

Toll concessions: local monthly pass, return-trip discount and exempt vehicles

Many drivers pay the full one-way toll every time without knowing about the passes that already exist. Here's every concession on national highway plazas, and how to get it.

Quick answer

If you live within 20 km of a toll plaza and use a private vehicle, you can get a local monthly pass with unlimited crossings of that plaza, now also on the Rajmargyatra app at many plazas. A return trip within 24 hours costs 1.5× the one-way toll. Regular commuters can buy a 50-trip pass valid for a month at two-thirds of 50 single trips. Some official and emergency vehicles are exempt from toll altogether.

Passes at a glance

PassWhoPriceValid for
Local monthly passPrivate vehicle, owner living within 20 km of the plazaSet per plaza, revised yearly (e.g. ₹340 for 2025-26 at one notified plaza)Unlimited crossings of that plaza for a calendar month
Return passAnyone1.5× the one-way toll2 one-way trips within 24 hours of payment
50-trip passAnyone2/3 of the fee for 50 single trips50 one-way trips within 1 month
Local commercial vehicleCommercial vehicle registered in the plaza's district (not National Permit)50% of the tollWhere no service road or alternative road exists
FASTag Annual PassPrivate car, jeep, van₹3,075200 trips or 1 year at NH plazas

From NH fee notifications (e.g. Gazette S.O. 1157(E), March 2026). Local pass rates differ by plaza; check the rate shown at your plaza.

Getting a local monthly pass

  • Who qualifies: a non-commercial vehicle whose owner lives within 20 km of the plaza.
  • Where it's not available: where the toll is collected under a closed system, or where a service road or alternative road exists.
  • At the plaza: apply at the plaza helpdesk with your Aadhaar, RC and proof of address.
  • Online: since July 2026 you can apply in the Rajmargyatra app at participating plazas (121 by 18 August 2026). The app checks your documents through DigiLocker and VAHAN, and your address against the 20 km radius.

Who is exempt from toll

Rule 11 of the National Highways Fee Rules lists the exempt categories. In short:

  • Constitutional and senior office holders, including the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Governors, Chief Justice of India and Supreme Court judges, Union ministers, Chief Ministers, the Lok Sabha Speaker, High Court judges, MPs and MLAs/MLCs, the Chief Secretary of a state and Secretaries to the Government of India, plus foreign dignitaries on state visits.
  • Gallantry award winners: Param Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra.
  • On official duty: Ministry of Defence vehicles, Central and State armed forces in uniform, paramilitary forces and police, and Executive Magistrates.
  • Emergency and highway vehicles: fire-fighting vehicles, ambulances, funeral vans, and NHAI or government vehicles used for highway inspection, survey, construction or operation.
  • Vehicles specially designed for persons with physical disability.

There's no exemption for public carriers such as buses and taxis.

Two more discounts worth knowing

  • Partly opened national expressways: from 15 February 2026 (for one year or until fully opened), the normal NH toll is charged instead of the higher expressway rate.
  • Highways being widened: where a 2-lane road with paved shoulders is being upgraded to 4 or more lanes, users pay 50% of the earlier toll until the work is complete (MoRTH, announced January 2026).

Questions drivers ask

Is toll free for local residents near a toll plaza?

Not free, but residents within 20 km using a private vehicle can get a local monthly pass with unlimited crossings of that plaza, at a fixed monthly rate set per plaza.

Is there a discount on a return journey at a toll plaza?

Yes. A return pass costs 1.5 times the one-way toll and covers the return trip within 24 hours of payment.

How do I apply for a toll local pass online?

Use the Rajmargyatra app at participating plazas; it verifies documents through DigiLocker and VAHAN and checks you live within 20 km. Otherwise apply at the plaza helpdesk with Aadhaar, RC and proof of address.

Who is exempt from paying toll?

Categories in Rule 11 of the NH Fee Rules: senior office holders and gallantry award winners, defence, armed forces and police on official duty, fire-fighting vehicles, ambulances, funeral vans, highway vehicles on duty and vehicles specially designed for persons with disability.

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