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 man claiming to be 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.
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.
The Indian Tolls (Army and Air Force) Act, 1901 mentions that exemption is allowed for “all officers, soldiers and airmen of” Regular forces, that is Army, Navy and that Air Force. The rule of “when on duty or when proceeding to or returning from duty” is meant for Territorial Army and NCC members.
NHAI, however, has a different interpretation of the rules.
“NHAI would like to clarify that toll exemptions and discounts on National Highways follow the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. As per rules, Exemption for serving Army personnel shall be extended only when the vehicle is used for official purposes. NH Users must adhere to these notified rules, claim benefits only if qualified, and work with toll operators for smooth operations,” said a post from the NHAI RO Bhopal handle.
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NHAI’s interpretation
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.
According to these rules, 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 story has been updated to show that the Indian Tolls (Army and Air Force) Act, 1901 mentions that exemption is allowed for “all officers, soldiers and airmen of” Regular forces, that is Army, Navy and that Air Force. The rule of “when on duty or when proceeding to or returning from duty” is meant for Territorial Army and NCC members. An X post from NHAI has also been included.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)
First and foremost, service in the Armed Forces — whether in the Army, Navy, or Air Force — is a 24×7 commitment. There is no concept of “off-duty” in the conventional sense. Even while on leave, personnel remain subject to service obligations. It is not comparable to a normal 9-to-5 civilian job.
Secondly, a Movement Order is an official and sensitive document issued for a specific operational or administrative purpose. It cannot be casually displayed or shared, as it may relate to designated movements or classified details. Expecting its public production reflects a lack of understanding of service protocols.
Portraying a serving soldier in a casual or dismissive manner, or reducing his professional conduct to a simplistic narrative, is neither fair nor respectful. Members of the Armed Forces operate under strict codes of discipline and accountability, and they deserve to be treated with due dignity at all times — irrespective of whether they are in uniform at that moment.
The issue is not about privilege; it is about understanding the unique nature of military service and maintaining the respect that such service rightfully commands.
This is an article without research. When an army person goes on casual leave and gets injured , he is considered as on duty. Same applies for Toll. The casual leave is considered on duty.
The traveling time or the journey period is also considered on duty while during annual leave.pl do your research before publishing such biased views. He has also crossed 3 x toll booths before being confronted by this operator.
The author of the article is requested to read the Army Toll Act first. Nowhere in the Act is there a mention of on duty and off duty. In fact Supreme Court has already dismissed a petition which challenged the validity of the Act. The interpretation of on or off duty has been created by NHAI which has no jurisdiction of interpreting such Acts as it’s a legislative task.
This is an article without research. When an army person goes on casual leave and gets injured , he is considered as on duty. Same applies for Toll. The casual leave is considered on duty.
The traveling time or the journey period is also considered on duty while during annual leave.pl do your research before publishing such biased views. He has also crossed 3 x toll booths before being confronted by this operator.
I understand that our defence forces personals are on duty 24×7. Is it possible for an army guy to stop in the middle and go to his rest area during a war saying he shift has finished and he will continue his fight on the next day?
This is too cheap mindset from NHAI and their staff. They give exemptions to all politicians, main party workers, police and even other local gundaas.
Defence guys has most right to get an exemption then any one else.
Unfortunately in our country people feels patriotism only on republic day and independance day.
This is what happens when journalists do not know facts and indulge in agenda based writing. All officers while travelling from leave or for rejoining are considered to be on leave. The toll plazas generally know this but then there are always anti establishment individuals who indulge in harassment of soldiers.
All bureaucrats and politicians are exempted.
No toll guy will ever stop police even off duty.
Toll guys will always let hooligans cross. But this journalist feels it is his duty to target Army perssonel.
Grow a conscience
Journalism is about educating the society about the truth and facts, however, The print has done all but that. News based on a social media post and interpretation based on general trend in the social media.
Sadly not even ready to correct even after realising the mistake. Your entire article is a different story and last ammended paragraph mentions something different, but not clear.
Please take the onus, educate yourself and correct the interpretation
First and foremost, service in the Armed Forces — whether in the Army, Navy, or Air Force — is a 24×7 commitment. There is no concept of “off-duty” in the conventional sense. Even while on leave, personnel remain subject to service obligations. It is not comparable to a normal 9-to-5 civilian job.
Secondly, a Movement Order is an official and sensitive document issued for a specific operational or administrative purpose. It cannot be casually displayed or shared, as it may relate to designated movements or classified details. Expecting its public production reflects a lack of understanding of service protocols.
Portraying a serving soldier in a casual or dismissive manner, or reducing his professional conduct to a simplistic narrative, is neither fair nor respectful. Members of the Armed Forces operate under strict codes of discipline and accountability, and they deserve to be treated with due dignity at all times — irrespective of whether they are in uniform at that moment.
The issue is not about privilege; it is about understanding the unique nature of military service and maintaining the respect that such service rightfully commands.
For a News house that claims “India needs fair Non hyphenated and questioning journalism” the amount of research into the subject is appalling.
Just as how it is embarassing that how you would have decided to print an entire article on the basis of a video on circulating on WhatsApp with absolutely no other looking into the background.
The Act specifies “Families Horses Baggage and Transport”
By your flawed interpretation. If only “on duty” personnel are exempted.
Under what circumstance do you think these personnel would be taking their Families in such case ? How would you define what “on the march” means ? To war ? With their family and kids ?
The 1901 toll act clearly states in para 3 (a)(i) that :
*****
3. Exemptions from tolls.—The following persons and property, namely : —
[(a) all officers, soldiers and airmen of—
(i) 5 [the Regular Forces]
*******
Please do read it and if it clears the doubt. Also the on duty and off duty clause is for Reserve forces, NCC and CAPF.
Maybe the reference will help you understand it.
Your interpretation of the law is wrong.
For Army its excused always.
For terretorial army, its on duty. An Act is an act until another act is passed to amend it. Advisories or circulars cant override Act. Pls write only if u know. Not for sensationalism.
How can bloody rules of an Executive body supersede an Act passed in the Parliament ?
Whether the Act was passed pre or post independence is immaterial. There are many Acts with British legacy in our Constitution because they were applicable post independence too.
Further, a couple of Army Officers had fought this in court and the toll authorities had apologised thereafter.
The NHAI has got its head up its backside and is inefficient in promulgating instructions to all the contractors responsible for toll collection
This is so frustrating. Are the Army personnel going to god-forsaken places just to come back to people twisting and misinterpreting Acts ?
Poor reporting and certainly not expected for ThePrint.
The author of the article is requested to read the Army Toll Act first. Nowhere in the Act is there a mention of on duty and off duty. In fact Supreme Court has already dismissed a petition which challenged the validity of the Act. The interpretation of on or off duty has been created by NHAI which has no jurisdiction of interpreting such Acts as it’s a legislative task.
This article is misinformation.
Armed forces personnel are always considered on duty whether on annual or casual leave and that’s why when its toll free on duty means always. Please don’t spread mis-information.