The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Fourth Amendment Rules, 2026, aimed at strengthening enforcement and ensuring rationalised fee collection for overloaded vehicles on national highways.
According to a notification issued on April 14, the amended rules will come into force from April 15, 2026. The revised framework introduces a structured mechanism for charging fees on vehicles exceeding the permissible Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), with a focus on encouraging compliance with load limits.
Under the amended provisions, vehicles carrying excess load will be charged based on the degree of overloading. While minor deviations of up to 10 per cent beyond the permissible limit will not attract any additional fee, vehicles exceeding this threshold will face significantly higher charges.
Those overloaded between 10 per cent and 40 per cent will be required to pay twice the base rate, while vehicles carrying loads beyond 40 per cent will be charged four times the standard fee. This graded structure is intended to deter overloading while ensuring proportional penalties.
The rules also emphasise the use of scientific methods for determining overloading. Certified weighment devices installed at toll plazas will be used to measure vehicle weight, ensuring accuracy and fairness in enforcement.
The notification clarifies that no overload fee will be levied at plazas where such weighment facilities are not available.
In line with the government's push for digital transactions, all overload fees will be collected exclusively through the FASTag system. Details of overloaded vehicles will be recorded and reported to the VAHAN database, strengthening monitoring and regulatory oversight.
The amendment also reiterates compliance requirements for FASTag usage, stating that vehicles entering national highways without a valid FASTag will be subject to existing penalty provisions. However, the revised rules will not automatically apply to certain older private investment projects unless concessionaires agree to adopt them.
The amendment is expected to improve compliance, reduce road damage caused by overloaded vehicles, and promote safer and more efficient movement of goods across national highways seamless with Weigh-in Motion (WIM).