People usually have to pay a fee called toll tax when they travel on national highways with their vehicles.
This also applies to many GT roads or regular roads. However, there’s good news for individuals with disabilities.
In one state, Punjab, there is a 100 percent exemption from toll tax for disabled individuals traveling on national highways.
This exemption is only applicable in Punjab and is not a nationwide policy.
The Punjab government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party, has made national highways in the state completely free for disabled people.
Dr. Baljeet Kaur, the Minister of Punjab Social Security, Women, and Child Development, explained that the 100 percent toll exemption is specifically for vehicles registered in the name of disabled individuals under the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, and its related rules.
It is important for disabled individuals to register their vehicles as such in the registration certificate.
To benefit from this exemption, disabled individuals can apply to the Transport Department to register their new or existing vehicles as disabled.
They need to obtain a special fast tag with a discount to avail the concession. The application for the fast tag can be filled online at https://exemptedfastag.nhai.org/exemptedfastag.
Once the online form is completed, the authority will issue an exempted fast tag, which disabled individuals can install on their vehicles.
Detailed information about this policy can be found on the department’s website at https://sswcd.punjab.gov.in.
If disabled individuals encounter any difficulties in accessing this facility, they can reach out to the Social Security Officer of their district or the Child Development Project Officer of the relevant block.
