Image credit: ANI NEW DELHI: Govt is looking at pruning the list of vehicles exempted from paying tolls on national highways, and to begin vehicles attached to senior Central and state govt officers are likely to be taken out from the “exempted category”, TOI has learnt.A high level committee set up by the central govt has recommended the road transport ministry to amend the National Highways Fee Rules “eliminating the exempted category”. The proposal is under discussion with various stakeholders and there is a possibility of reducing the exempted category of vehicles in a graded manner, officials said.“The proposal to begin this exercise with govt officers is under active consideration. There is a focus on doing away with VIP culture as this doesn’t go down well with common citizens,” said a person aware of the development. Road transport ministry has written to different govt entities and states to persuade their employees to buy FASTag Annual Pass rather than seeking exemption. “They can devise a mechanism to reimburse the amount for FASTag Annual pass, which is much less than reimbursement of mobile phone bills. Discussions are also on with defence forces,” an official said.Currently, vehicles transporting and accompanying people holding 25 public offices are exempted from paying toll. Vehicles used for official purposes by defence personnel, central and state armed forces in uniform including paramilitary forces, executive magistrate, fire fighting department, inspection of highway projects and emergency purposes (ambulance, funeral van) are also exempted from paying toll.‘Exempted Fastags’ are issued by IHMCL under National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to vehicles legally exempt from paying toll charges. Even though these vehicles do not pay tolls, they must still affix a valid Exempted FASTag.People privy to the deliberations said with the roll out of FASTag Annual Pass, now people can buy this online and get the amount reimbursed from their respective department. With the Rs 3,075 annual pass, a vehicle can cross 200 toll plazas, which costs little over Rs 15 per plaza, and this can be renewed multiple times in a year.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCommercial LPG Rates Increased, Domestic Cooking Gas Prices UnchangedCBSE Crisis Deepens Amid Fresh Allegations Of Student Data Exposure‘It Is Public Anger’: BJP Leaders Slam TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee Over Sonarpur IncidentPoK Youth Crosses LoC To Meet Woman In North Kashmir, Apprehended By ArmyMamata Banerjee To Lead June 2 Kolkata Sit-In Over Alleged Attacks On Abhishek Banerjee, TMC LeadersVP Radhakrishnan Warns Indian Youth May Follow ‘Cockroach’ If Positive News Is Ignored‘INDIA Stands United’: Abhishek Banerjee Thanks Rahul Gandhi For Support After Sonarpur AttackKunal Ghosh Targets TMC Leaders Over Silence On Abhishek Banerjee Attack, Sparks Internal DebateNepal PM Invokes Britain In India Border Row, Says ‘We Have Also Encroached On Indian Areas’Rahul Gandhi Meets CBSE Student Vedant, Mocks ‘Anti-National’ And ‘Deep State Agent’ Allegations123PhotostoriesWhy do snakes have forked tongues? The surprising science behind this unique featureThe body check: What constantly cold hands and feet could reveal about your healthWhy more young adults are developing heart disease: The hidden impact of sitting, stress and urban pollutionThought of the day, inspired by the Bhagavad Gita: “The strongest people are not ruled by emotions”Meet 5 of the world’s most colourful dog breedsCotton vs mulmul: Key differences and which one to choose this summerThese 5 simple exercises can help women build muscle and boost fitness without a gymJune is a star-studded month: 5 celebrities whose birthdays fall this monthDivyanka Tripathi shares emotional moments from twin boys’ birth; Delivery room glimpses to Harshdeep Kaur singing “Chanda Hai Tu” for the newborns’Stranger Things’ to ‘Game of Thrones’: Series that gained popularity owing to their conspiracy theories123Hot PicksRCB vs GT IPL Final LiveVinesh PhogatMonsoon ForecastHenry Nowak murderFrancisco CerundoloDonald TrumpGold price predictionTop TrendingPM Balen ShahBihar CSBC exam city slipWWE Clash Results and HighlightsVinesh PhogatNorway ChessSupreme CourtMumbai Air India ColonyBSEB Bihar Sakashmta Pariksha Admit CardNTANEET Paper Leak
NEW DELHI: Govt is looking at pruning the list of vehicles exempted from paying tolls on national highways, and to begin vehicles attached to senior Central and state govt officers are likely to be taken out from the “exempted category”, TOI has learnt.A high level committee set up by the central govt has recommended the road transport ministry to amend the National Highways Fee Rules “eliminating the exempted category”. The proposal is under discussion with various stakeholders and there is a possibility of reducing the exempted category of vehicles in a graded manner, officials said.“The proposal to begin this exercise with govt officers is under active consideration. There is a focus on doing away with VIP culture as this doesn’t go down well with common citizens,” said a person aware of the development. Road transport ministry has written to different govt entities and states to persuade their employees to buy FASTag Annual Pass rather than seeking exemption. “They can devise a mechanism to reimburse the amount for FASTag Annual pass, which is much less than reimbursement of mobile phone bills. Discussions are also on with defence forces,” an official said.Currently, vehicles transporting and accompanying people holding 25 public offices are exempted from paying toll. Vehicles used for official purposes by defence personnel, central and state armed forces in uniform including paramilitary forces, executive magistrate, fire fighting department, inspection of highway projects and emergency purposes (ambulance, funeral van) are also exempted from paying toll.‘Exempted Fastags’ are issued by IHMCL under National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to vehicles legally exempt from paying toll charges. Even though these vehicles do not pay tolls, they must still affix a valid Exempted FASTag.People privy to the deliberations said with the roll out of FASTag Annual Pass, now people can buy this online and get the amount reimbursed from their respective department. With the Rs 3,075 annual pass, a vehicle can cross 200 toll plazas, which costs little over Rs 15 per plaza, and this can be renewed multiple times in a year.
