Traveling on India’s highways and expressways is about to become costlier as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) implements a toll tax hike effective midnight on March 31, 2025. The revised rates, applicable from April 1, will affect commuters and commercial operators across key routes, including the Lucknow highways, Delhi-Meerut Expressway, Eastern Peripheral Expressway, NH-9, and the Delhi-Jaipur highway. This marks the second toll increase within a year, the previous one occurring in June 2024.
The NHAI has issued notifications detailing the new toll rates for various toll plazas. On highways passing through Lucknow, such as Lucknow-Kanpur, Ayodhya, Raebareli, and Barabanki, light vehicles like cars will see an increase of ₹ 5 to ₹10 per trip, while heavy vehicles face a steeper hike of ₹20 to ₹25.
The Delhi-Meerut Expressway, Eastern Peripheral Expressway, and NH-9 are also affected. For instance, the one-way toll for cars and jeeps traveling from Sarai Kale Khan to Meerut will rise from ₹165 to ₹170. Light commercial vehicles and buses will now pay ₹275, while trucks will be charged ₹580 per trip. At the Chhijarsi toll plaza on NH-9, car tolls will increase from ₹170 to ₹175, light commercial vehicles to ₹280, and buses and trucks to ₹590. Vehicles carrying goods with more than seven axles will face the highest jump, with tolls rising by ₹590. Additionally, the toll from Ghaziabad to Meerut will increase from ₹70 to ₹75. These rates will remain at their current levels until March 31, with the new tariffs kicking in the following day.
On the Delhi-Jaipur highway, the Kherki Daula toll plaza will see changes as well. While tolls for cars and jeeps remain unchanged, larger vehicles will incur an additional ₹5 per journey. The monthly pass at this plaza will now cost ₹950, up from ₹930—a ₹20 increase. Commercial cars and jeeps will pay ₹85 per side, with their monthly pass rising from ₹1225 to ₹ 1255. Light motor vehicles (LMVs) and mini buses will see single-journey tolls increase from ₹120 to ₹ 25.
The toll hike has sparked mixed reactions. While some commuters acknowledge the need for infrastructure funding, others lament the frequent increases.
The NHAI has assured that the additional revenue will support ongoing highway maintenance and expansion projects. As of now, tolls will be collected at the existing rates until midnight on March 31, 2025, after which the new rates will apply nationwide. Travelers are advised to plan their journeys accordingly as these changes take effec
