In a significant move aimed at streamlining the travel of top officials, the Bihar government has announced that a wide range of constitutional functionaries will soon be able to pass through toll plazas on national highways without stopping or paying any fees. The state's transport department has issued a directive to implement a full toll tax exemption for designated government vehicles used by the chief minister, ministers, MPs, and judges, among others.
Three-Month Deadline for Registration
The initiative, spearheaded by Transport Minister Shravan Kumar, mandates that all eligible official vehicles must install special "Exempted FASTags" and complete their registration on the portal of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) within the next three months. This step formally brings Bihar in line with the central government's existing policy under the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.
Minister Kumar emphasized that the primary objective is to conserve the valuable time of VVIPs. He noted that halting their convoys at toll plazas frequently causes delays, affecting their punctuality at crucial meetings and official events. "The department has sent individual letters to all concerned persons, requesting them to complete the process at the earliest to avoid any inconvenience in the future," Kumar stated.
Who is Eligible for the Toll Exemption?
The facility of full toll tax exemption is extensive and covers a definitive list of dignitaries. According to the directive, the benefit will be available to the official vehicles of:
- The Chief Minister of Bihar
- The Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
- The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha
- All Members of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies
- Chief Justices and Judges of High Courts
- Current and former MLAs and MLCs of Bihar
- All State Ministers
- The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly
- Former Chief Ministers of the state
This policy effectively consolidates and formalizes a privilege that aligns with central rules, ensuring a uniform protocol for high-ranking officials during their travel on national highways across the state.
Implications and Streamlined Travel
The introduction of the "Exempted FASTag" system is expected to bring operational efficiency. By eliminating the need for these specific official convoys to stop, it addresses security and logistical concerns while potentially reducing traffic bottlenecks at toll plazas. The three-month window provided for registration allows the concerned offices and individuals ample time to comply with the new procedure.
This move underscores the state administration's focus on facilitating smoother transit for those holding key constitutional positions, framing it as a measure for better governance and time management rather than a mere perk. The success of the initiative will hinge on the seamless integration of these exempted vehicles into the NHAI's digital toll collection ecosystem without disrupting the flow of regular traffic.
