New Delhi: A viral video from Gadha Toll Plaza in Madhya Pradesh has sparked debate and brought an overlooked issue into the spotlight. Do Indian Army personnel get automatic toll exemption, or is it just a common assumption?
In the video, a serving officer argues with a toll staff member after being asked to pay, claiming that he had crossed several toll plazas earlier without paying.
“You are off-duty, sir. If you are going home, you are not on duty. You can file a complaint, and if we get orders to exempt you, we’ll let you go. We have no problem,” the toll staff member says in the video.
The clip went viral on social media, with many praising the toll employee for his calm tone and composed handling of the situation. “Very polite”, “toll guy is right”, “I support the toll guy,” read the comments on Instagram.
The roots of toll exemption for defence personnel go back to the Indian Tolls (Army and Air Force) Act, 1901. This law was created during the British era to ensure that military movements were not obstructed or financially burdened. It exempts officers, soldiers, and airmen from paying tolls — but only when they are on official duty.
The exemption also extends to authorised followers — persons other than officers, soldiers or airmen who are employed by the defence forces or corps — and the families accompanying troops while they are on duty or on the march. Government carriages and horses being used for military or air force services are also exempt when transporting troops or military stores, or even when returning empty after duty.
But it was never meant to cover personal travel.
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Toll rules and lack of awareness
Today, toll collection on national highways is governed by the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. Rule 11 clearly states that vehicles used for official purposes by the Ministry of Defence are exempt. It also allows exemptions for armed forces personnel in uniform, but only when they are on official duty.
There is no overall waiver for all serving personnel at all times. And this is exactly where the confusion starts.
Many people believe that being a ‘fauji’ automatically means free passage at toll plazas. But the law says otherwise. If a soldier is travelling in a private vehicle for personal reasons, toll charges apply as they do for any other citizen of this country.
Identification cards are not enough. Duty orders, movement passes, or official documents are required to claim exemption.
MoRTH FAQs and NHAI advisories confirm that a private car, even with an Army ID, cannot be spared from payment if the soldier is off-duty.
FASTag doesn’t automatically apply exemptions. The toll staff check for it manually, which can cause disputes due to the lack of any clear digital systems or standardised checks.
In the Gadha incident, the operator insisted on documentation proving official duty. And when it was not given, payment was requested.
Instead of escalating the situation, he repeatedly explained that off-duty travel requires payment. Many viewers later commented that the staff members appeared to understand the rules clearly and handled the situation professionally.
The reel highlighted a larger issue: the lack of awareness on both sides. Many soldiers and toll staff members are unfamiliar with the toll rules.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)