MoRTH local toll pass from 1 Nov: ₹1,500 outside towns, ₹3,000 inside

By Tushita · 26 Oct, 2026

A new MoRTH rule lets eligible residents within 20 km of a National Highway fee plaza choose an annual local pass from 1 Nov 2026, subject to FASTag and route conditions.

MoRTH local toll pass from 1 Nov: ₹1,500 outside towns, ₹3,000 inside

MoRTH has notified a new concessional local toll pass for eligible non-commercial vehicle owners who live within 20 km of a National Highway fee plaza. The pass starts on 1 Nov 2026 and will cost ₹1,500 a year at plazas outside municipal or local-town limits, or ₹3,000 a year at plazas within those limits.

Key takeaways

The rule is in G.S.R. 917(E), the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2026, issued on 26 Oct 2026.
Eligibility requires a valid, functional FASTag on a vehicle registered for non-commercial use and residence within 20 km of the relevant fee plaza.
The pass is valid only at the specific plaza for which it is issued; it is not a network-wide toll pass.
It cannot be issued where the highway or expressway uses a closed user-fee collection system, or where a service road or alternative road is available for the user.
The new pass is an option alongside the monthly pass, and the rates may be revised by the Central Government every 1 Apr.

What the notification changes

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has inserted a new sub-rule 3(A) into the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. The official Gazette notification, G.S.R. 917(E), says the amendment comes into force on 1 Nov 2026.

Under the amendment, a person who owns a mechanical vehicle with a valid functional FASTag registered for non-commercial use, and who lives within 20 km of a fee plaza, may choose between the existing monthly pass and the new Concessional Local Pass. The annual pass is tied to the particular plaza used for the commute, so qualifying for one location does not create a pass for other toll points on the same route.

Eligibility is based on the plaza and the route

The 20-km condition is not the only test. The rule also excludes a concession where the fee is collected under a closed user-fee collection system. It further says that the pass cannot be issued if a service road or alternative road is available for the driver, owner or person in charge of the vehicle.

That makes the change more limited than a general toll discount. A resident may be close enough to a plaza but still need to check the tolling arrangement and the availability of an alternative road. The FASTag must also be functional and linked to a non-commercial vehicle before the pass can work as intended.

What it means for a local commuter’s budget

Times of India and Economic Times reported on 26 Oct 2026 that the existing local monthly pass is ₹360 a month, or ₹4,320 over 12 months. Using that reported rate only as a comparison, the new annual pass would reduce the arithmetic outlay by ₹2,820 a year outside municipal or local-town limits, and by ₹1,320 a year within those limits.

Fee-plaza location	New local pass from 1 Nov 2026	Difference versus ₹4,320 annual comparison
Outside municipal or local-town limits	₹1,500 per year	₹2,820 lower
Within municipal or local-town limits	₹3,000 per year	₹1,320 lower

These are simple comparisons, not a promise of savings for every vehicle owner. The monthly rate cited by the two reports may not be the amount shown for every plaza, and the new pass remains subject to the legal conditions. The notification also allows the Central Government to revise the two annual rates every 1 Apr, so the prices are not permanently fixed.

For a household that crosses one plaza repeatedly, the practical question is whether the vehicle and route meet the conditions and whether the plaza offers the new option through its authorised process. To estimate the toll burden for an entire route, use the toll charges calculator rather than treating the local pass as a discount on every toll along the journey.

What the pass does not cover

It is not a national pass: the new concession applies to the named fee plaza only.
It is not for every vehicle: the gazette specifies a valid functional FASTag and non-commercial registration.
It does not override road alternatives: a service road or alternative road can disqualify the concession.
It does not cover closed systems: the rule excludes highways and expressways where the fee is levied through a closed user-fee collection system.

This distinction matters for people whose daily route passes more than one plaza. A local pass may reduce the cost at the qualifying plaza, but other tolls on the same commute still need to be checked separately. The road-trip planner can help map a longer journey’s route and stop plan, while the fuel-cost calculator can keep fuel spending separate from toll spending.

What drivers can check before 1 November

Vehicle status: confirm that the FASTag is active, functional and attached to the vehicle’s current registration details.
Residence and distance: check the address information used for eligibility and whether it falls within 20 km of the specific plaza.
Road conditions: confirm whether a service road or alternative route is available, because that can affect eligibility under the amended rule.
Plaza coverage: check the authorised NHAI or Rajmargyatra process for the individual plaza once the new rule is implemented.
Trip cost: compare the local pass with the plaza’s current monthly option and add any other tolls and fuel costs on the same commute.

The gazette creates the legal option from 1 Nov 2026; it does not say that every eligible FASTag will be converted automatically. Users will need to follow the applicable application or activation process for the particular plaza, and the availability of that process should be checked through official channels.

Reader takeaway

The new rule is most relevant to residents who repeatedly cross one National Highway fee plaza and currently rely on a monthly local pass. From 1 Nov 2026, the annual price is set at ₹1,500 outside municipal or local-town limits and ₹3,000 within them, but the benefit depends on a functional FASTag, non-commercial registration, the 20-km residence condition and the absence of a service road or alternative route.