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NEW DELHI: Now only security vehicles accompanying dignitaries who are exempted from paying toll will be allowed to pass through the plazas without paying the user fee on NH networks.

The amended rule has defined a "security vehicle" as one which carries security personnel from central armed forces or central paramilitary forces or state police. So, while the list of dignitaries continue to be same, only security vehicles accompanying them will get the benefit of toll exemption .

According to the old NHAI rules, vehicles transporting and "officially accompanying" 25 dignitaries including President, Prime Minister, Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and high courts, Union ministers, chief ministers, judges of SC and HCs, defence chiefs and MPs are exempted from paying toll.

The road transport ministry has made this specific provision to end ambiguity and misuse of the provision that allowed only a few vehicles "accompanying" the specific dignitaries free ride across all toll plazas .

Sources said there was rampant misuse of the "accompanying vehicle" provision and several vehicles often passed through toll plazas without paying the user fee claiming they were part of the dignitaries' convoys.

"This change has made it clear which all vehicles can have the privilege of a free travel through all toll plazas. This will improve toll collection and reduce disputes even at the toll plazas," said an official.

During his last tenure, PM Narendra Modi had flagged how vehicles were escaping from paying toll. Following his direction, NHAI started issuing special FASTags to MPs and the government has now said that all exempt category vehicles will get FASTags. These will be "zero transaction" tags, which means the travel will be recorded, but there will be no charge for the trip.

Though recently government had decided to extend this provision for all vehicles of dignitaries and security forces, now a foolproof system is being put in place to ensure that sensitive details don't become public.

