The Centre is working on a way to identify eligible private vehicles used by armed forces personnel at barrier-free highway toll points. The proposal could involve special FASTags that register a vehicle’s passage without deducting money, or normal FASTags whose toll charges are later reimbursed. No final system has been approved, and the proposal should not be mistaken for a new blanket exemption for every personal journey by a soldier.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has begun discussions with the Ministry of Defence because automated toll collection is exposing a problem that could previously be resolved by checking documents at a toll booth. The issue potentially affects a large serving defence population, estimated at around 14 lakh personnel.
Under the existing system, a driver can stop at a toll plaza, present the relevant documents and request an exemption. Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling removes that interaction. Cameras and electronic readers identify moving vehicles and calculate charges without requiring drivers to slow down at a barrier.
That makes journeys quicker, but it also means a vehicle without a recognised exemption can automatically be treated as liable for toll. According to a Mint report, e-challans have already been generated for some defence personnel using private cars on routes where the technology is being tested. This is the problem the ministries want to resolve before wider deployment.
Fewer than ten toll points currently use MLFF, while bidding has begun for more than 100 additional locations. The government is working towards deploying it across a network of roughly 1,150 toll plazas by the end of FY2028, although the rollout timetable has changed before.
There is an important legal distinction that often gets missed. NHAI’s published clarification says the exemption under the Indian Tolls (Army and Air Force) Act applies to personnel on duty. It does not extend to retired personnel, or to the private use of a personal vehicle unrelated to official work. The prescribed pass is also required.
That means military employment alone does not automatically make a family’s highway trips toll-free. The latest discussions concern how eligible movements should be recognised electronically and whether the exemption mechanism needs to change. Until the ministries announce a revised policy, drivers should follow the existing eligibility and documentation rules.
One option being considered is a dedicated FASTag linked to an approved vehicle and exemption record. The tolling system could identify the tag and allow the car to pass without charging it. Official military vehicles may be easier to recognise because they use distinct registration plates.
Another proposal would let eligible personnel use regular FASTags, with the Defence Ministry reimbursing toll expenses or the cost of an annual pass. The ministries have not agreed on who would bear these costs. There are also questions about how long vehicle records should be retained, given the sensitivity of military movements.
For ordinary motorists, the new system should reduce stopping and queueing at toll plazas. For those entitled to exemptions, however, automation has to be accurate enough to avoid mistaken deductions and penalties. A convenient digital system will be useful only if it also provides a clear way to correct mistakes.