Transport trade unions representing commercial vehicle operators such as cabins, taxis, buses, trucks, carriers of goods and cabins Maxi raised strong objections to their exclusion. | Photo Credit: File Photos
The newly announced toll concession for private vehicles has caused dissatisfaction between commercial transport operators in the carnation who claims that they also deserve similar benefits due to their large use of national motorways.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Morth (Morth) recently introduced the annual Fastag Pass system for non -commercial vehicles at fixed costs at 3,000 GBP, which aims to streamline toll payments and promote digital transactions. The scheme, which is about to enter into force on August 15, 2025, promises significant savings for private motorists, but the industry of commercial vehicles has felt.
While transport unions representing commercial vehicle operators such as cabins, taxis, buses, trucks, goods carriers and maxi cabins have raised strong objections to their exclusion. These operators argue that they pass through the motorways more often and cause much higher the cost of tolls every year, so they deserve discounted tolls.
“Private vehicles often do not use national highways. They usually hit highways only during long distance travel. On the other hand, commercial vehicles, whether long vehicle, are an intercity cab or a tourist bus cover of hundreds of kilometers, should be every day.
According to Mr. Holly Ksto, he wrote a formal request by the Minister of Nitin Gadkari, who urged that the annual Fastag system was also expanded to commercial vehicles. “Taxi and public transport providers are among the most common highway users. Even a single taxi operator eventually pays more than 30,000 GBP per year in tolls. A package like this could significantly reduce their burden, especially when fuel and maintenance costs are already rising,” he added.
Nataraj Sharma, President of the Federation in Karnataka State Private Transport Associations, described the cost of tolls for utility vehicles as “exaggerated and unsustainable”. When he talked to the Hindu, Mr. Sharma said, “Eventually we throw thousands of rupees every year, only on tolls. For fleet owners with dozens of vehicles, these costs multiply several times. It’s just fair that the government offers for commercial vehicles.
The Minister of Transport Transport and Nitin motorways Gadkari announced on June 18 that private vehicles will soon be able to issue up to 200 highway routes in a year by paying only 3,000 GBP fees for tolls. “For a long time, there have been concerns about the toll fee. This decision will give the public a great relief. The average toll fee will drop to 15 GBP from 50 to 100 GBP,” Gadkari said in a video report published on X.
According to him, the new passage available exclusively to private ATVs, such as cars, jeeps and supplies, will reduce toll costs. Toll fees for 200 trips, which were currently £ 10,000, would decrease to 3,000 GBP after the introduction of the annual pass, resulting in huge savings for the public, he said.
The government has changed Rule 9 according to the National Highways Fee rules. The dedicated portal for the purchase and recovery of the pass will be available in Rajmarg Yatra, as well as through the website of the Indian National Motorway Office (Nhai) and Morth.
Published – 7 July 2025 21:30
