There are legal ways which actually guarantee free passage for your car at any toll plaza managed by the National Highway Authority (NHAI). Know what they are.
Paying a toll in almost any part of the country has become a norm in recent years. Whether you are travelling in any metro city or a small town, all expressways you wish to pass demand a toll fee. However, there are legal ways which actually guarantee free passage for your car at any toll plaza managed by the National Highway Authority (NHAI).
Th NHAI has mentioned two conditions under which drivers are allowed to pass through a toll booth without paying a fee. These two ‘rules’ mentioned through an order dated May 26, 2021, which allow free passage at toll plazas are as below;
As per the NHAI rules, a driver can exit the vehicle without paying a toll. Here’s how this works;
Rule 1:
The NHAI rule states that in case of a long queue at the toll plaza, you can pass without paying the toll if your car is parked at a distance of 100 metres or more away from the toll plaza. A yellow stripe is put up on the road at every toll plaza, which marks the distance of 100 metres.
So, in effect you can legally pass without paying the toll if your car is parked beyond the 100 metre mark at the toll plaza.
Rule 2:
A somewhat similar rule established by the NHAI states that a driver is not required to pay any fee if they have to wait for more than 10 seconds to pass through the toll gate. In simple terms, you can legally pass through the toll plaza for free if you had to wait for more than 10 seconds for your turn at the gate.
NHAI helpline
In order to ensure the strict implementation of these policies, the NHAI has set up a dedicated helpline number for aggrieved drivers. Drivers who had to wait for more than 10 seconds at a toll plaza can register their complaints by calling the NHAI toll-free helpline at 1033.