The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) on March 17, 2026, issued the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026 to further amend the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.
The following amendments have been stated:
• In rule 14, after sub-rule (2), the following sub-rules shall be inserted, namely:—
‘(2A) For the purposes of giving effect to sub-rule (2), unpaid user fee shall be recovered from the owner of the mechanical vehicle in the following manner, namely :—
(a) electronic notice (hereinafter referred to as the “e-notice”) shall be issued specifying the details of the vehicle, the date and location of occurrence, and the amount of unpaid user fee payable, in the name of the owner of the vehicle as available in the National Vehicle Registry (VAHAN);
(b) e-notice may be served by electronic means including Short Message Service (SMS), electronic mail (email), mobile-based messaging applications, or through such other electronic mode as may be specified by the Central Government, and may also be served in physical form;
(c) e-notice shall be made available on online portal to be specified by the Central Government for this purpose;
(d) the Central Government or its executing authority may undertake technical and system integration of the National Electronic Toll Collection system with the National Vehicle Registry (VAHAN) as may be necessary for the purposes of enforcement measures, and realisation of such unpaid user fee.
(2B) The unpaid user fee payable in pursuance of an e-notice issued under sub-rule (2A) shall be an amount equal to two times the user fee applicable to the concerned category of vehicle, as specified under sub-rule (2) of rule 4, and shall be paid through electronic mode or through such other mode of payment, as may be specified by the Central Government from time to time:
Provided that where the unpaid user fee is paid within seventy-two hours from the time of issuance of the enotice, the amount payable shall be limited to the user fee applicable to the concerned category of vehicle, as specified under sub-rule (2) of rule 4.
(2C) Any owner or driver of a mechanical vehicle aggrieved by an e-notice may, within seventy-two hours from the time of issuance thereof, submit a representation through the designated electronic portal.
(2D) Where a representation has been submitted under sub-rule (2C), the executing authority or the concessionaire, as the case may be, shall examine and dispose of such representation and communicate its decision to the registered owner by electronic means within five days from the date of receipt of such representation:
Provided that, in case the representation not disposed of on the expiry of five days from the date of receipt of representation, then the claim of the executing authority or concessionaire to the unpaid user fee shall cease.
(2E) If the owner or driver of a mechanical vehicle fails to pay the unpaid user fee within fifteen days from the date of the issuance of the e-notice and no representation made under sub-rule (2C) is pending, the amount of unpaid user fee under sub-rule (2B) recoverable from the vehicle owner shall be posted onto the National Vehicle Registry (VAHAN); and such restrictions may be imposed on the services provided in respect of the such vehicle through VAHAN, as may be specified by the Central Government, until the unpaid user fee is paid.’.
They shall come into force on March 17, 2026.
[Notification No. G.S.R. 191(E)]
