Ghatta toll dispute: 7 Kangra panchayats seek local relief

By Zuhaib · 16 Oct, 2026

Seven Kangra panchayats are seeking local relief at the Ghatta toll barrier after the car charge rose to ₹65 one way on 1 Oct 2026. No exemption order was reported by 16 Oct.

Ghatta toll dispute: 7 Kangra panchayats seek local relief

Representatives of seven panchayats in Kangra have renewed opposition to toll collection at the Ghatta (Ranital) barrier on the Shimla–Mataur highway, seeking an exemption or other relief for local vehicles. The issue matters to drivers because the car charge rose to ₹65 for a single crossing from 1 Oct 2026, while local reports say parts of the four-lane project remain incomplete.

Key takeaways

Reports by Dainik Jagran and The Tribune say representatives of seven nearby panchayats have protested and submitted demands for local relief.
Reports dated 1 and 2 Oct put the current car-class charge at ₹65 for one way and ₹100 for a same-day return, up from ₹25 and ₹35 respectively.
The requested exemption radius is not consistent across reports: Dainik Jagran and Amar Ujala refer to 5 km, while The Tribune describes an 8-km blanket-exemption demand.
Kangra MP Dr Rajiv Bhardwaj has been reported as saying he will take the matter to the Union road-transport minister and seek a resolution within 15 days. That is an assurance, not a notified waiver.

What happened at the Ghatta toll barrier

Dainik Jagran reported on 15 Oct 2026 that residents and representatives from seven panchayats held a protest at the Ghatta toll plaza. The report said the representatives decided that drivers from the affected panchayats would not pay the toll from 15 Oct and warned of further action if the charge was forcibly collected.

The Tribune, reporting on 16 Oct 2026, said pradhans from Dhamed, Takipur, Daulatpur, Ranital, Bhagwar, Har Jalari and Janthankar had backed a demand for local exemption. It reported that the representatives submitted a representation to the NHAI Project Director in Hamirpur and argued that the barrier is disrupting routine access between villages, farms and essential facilities.

These reports describe a local protest and a demand for relief. They do not establish that NHAI, the Himachal Pradesh government or the toll operator has approved a waiver. Drivers should therefore treat the protest decision as a dispute, not as an official instruction to pass without paying.

What the revised toll rates mean

Amar Ujala reported on 1 Oct that the revised Ghatta schedule made the single journey for a car, jeep, van or other light motor vehicle ₹65, compared with ₹25 earlier. It listed the same-day return charge as ₹100, compared with ₹35 earlier. Divya Himachal independently reported the ₹65 one-way and ₹100 return figures while covering the local opposition to the increase.

The practical impact depends on how often a vehicle crosses the barrier. As an illustration, one return crossing each day for 20 days would total ₹2,000 at the reported ₹100 return rate. At the earlier ₹35 return rate, the same pattern would have been ₹700, a difference of ₹1,300. This is a simple comparison using the published rates, not an estimate of any individual resident's actual travel or eligibility for a pass.

For a longer journey, drivers can use the toll-charge calculator to estimate the route cost, then combine it with the fuel cost calculator before setting a trip budget. The tools provide planning estimates; the toll plaza's displayed vehicle-class rate and any valid local concession remain the reference at the point of travel.

Why the local exemption demand has grown

The core dispute is not only the amount charged but also the condition of the road being used. Dainik Jagran and The Tribune both reported that local representatives are objecting to full toll collection while parts of the Shimla–Mataur four-lane project remain unfinished, including the Riyund bridge work mentioned in the reports.

The primary state record confirms that a toll-rate revision exists for the financial year. The Himachal Pradesh State Taxes and Excise Department lists circular no. 7-2/2026-EXN-Toll-9403-12, dated 31 Mar 2026, under “Revision of Toll Rates for the Financial Year 2026-27”. The circular listing is evidence of the rate-policy record; it is not evidence that a local exemption has been granted at Ghatta.

The reported radius also needs clarification. Jagran and Amar Ujala describe a demand for relief within 5 km of the plaza. The Tribune reported the representatives' demand as a blanket exemption within 8 km. Until an authority publishes one defined radius, residents and operators should not assume that either distance has been accepted.

What drivers should check now

Keep the FASTag active and allow for the reported vehicle-class charge unless a written exemption or revised instruction is displayed by the competent authority.
Check the toll display and receipt for the vehicle category, journey type and amount charged. Keep the receipt if the amount differs from the displayed schedule.
If the route is part of a planned holiday or work trip, use the road-trip planner alongside the toll and fuel tools so the disputed barrier is included in the budget.
Watch for an official notice that specifies the eligible vehicles, the exemption radius, the start date and the process for claiming relief. A political assurance alone does not change the toll schedule.

What happens next

The Tribune and Amar Ujala both reported a 15-day assurance linked to the local relief demand. The next meaningful development would be a written decision from NHAI, the state administration or another competent authority. Drivers should also watch whether the toll operator changes the displayed rate, whether the local representatives' non-payment call is enforced, and whether the unfinished highway works alter the route or tolling arrangement.

Frequently asked questions

What is the reported car toll at Ghatta?

Reports published around the 1 Oct 2026 revision put the car-class charge at ₹65 for a single crossing and ₹100 for a same-day return. Check the current display and any official notice before travelling because the local dispute is ongoing.

Has a local exemption been approved?

Not in the sources reviewed for this update. The reports describe a demand, a protest and a reported 15-day assurance. They do not report a final exemption notification, and they differ on whether the requested radius is 5 km or 8 km.