Commuters to pay more as Punjab’s expensive toll plaza hikes charges

The state’s expensive toll plaza has again hiked the toll rates and commuters have to pay the increased charges from July 14 only while using the National Highway-44. The rates have been increased by Rs 10 to Rs 65, putting burden on people’s pockets.

Notably this is the second hike within three months as charges were also revised on April 1 by Rs 5.

As per the notification issued by the NHAI, it states that car, jeep and van at the Ladhowal barrier have to shell out Rs 10 more. The toll has been revised to Rs 235 for a single journey and Rs 350 for a double journey.

A single trip of LCV/LGV/mini bus will be charged Rs 380 instead of Rs 365 and a double trip will be Rs 570, which was Rs 550 earlier.

A single trip for bus and truck (two axles) will cost Rs 795 instead of Rs 770 and a double trip will be Rs 1,190 instead of Rs 1,155.

Three-axle commercial vehicles have to shell out Rs 865 instead of Rs 840 for a single trip and Rs 1,300 instead of 1,260 for a double trip. Four to six-axle vehicles will pay Rs 1,245 instead of 1,205 and Rs 1,865 instead of Rs 1,810 for a single and double trip, respectively. While oversized vehicles have to shell out Rs 1,515 and Rs 2,270 instead of Rs 1,470 and Rs 2,205 for single and double trips, respectively.

Vipin Rai, manager, Ladhowal toll barrier, said the toll tax rates were determined based on the wholesale price index (WPI). The fee is determined based on the length of the road, flyover, underpass and facilities provided.

Project Director, National Highways Authority of India, in a notification issued stated that the rate of monthly pass for a person who owns a mechanical vehicle registered for non-commercial purpose and resides within a distance of 20 km from the toll plaza for the year 2026-27 will be Rs 360, which was Rs 350 earlier. The rate of annual pass for a person who owns a mechanical vehicle registered for non-commercial purpose, having a valid and functional FASTag for the year 2026-27 will be Rs 3,075. Notification states that FASTag is mandatory for all vehicles plying on the national highway.

Since the hike was to be implemented from July 14, the Ladhowal toll barrier could not implement it from 11 am to 4 pm on Tuesday as farmers had made the toll barrier free for commuters during their protest.