New toll rates at Bharthana from April 1; no change for cars

Toll charges at Vadodara’s Bharthana toll plaza on National Highway-48 will see a marginal hike from April 1 as part of the annual revision by the National Highways Authority. However, rates for cars and jeeps will remain unchanged.

Situated near Bharthana village in Karjan taluka of Vadodara district, the toll plaza is among the highest revenue-generating points in Gujarat due to heavy traffic on the Vadodara–Bharuch stretch of NH-48. Toll rates are revised every year from April 1, and this time the increase applies to all vehicle categories except cars and jeeps.

With the new rates coming into effect, travel costs for commercial and heavy vehicles on this route will rise. Authorities have already begun preparations at the toll plaza to implement the revised charges.

Despite generating substantial revenue, the toll plaza reportedly lacks a functional weighing system to check overloaded vehicles. As per National Highways Authority norms, vehicles carrying loads beyond the permitted limit are liable to pay up to ten times the toll and must offload excess weight before proceeding.

However, sources suggest that such rules are not being enforced at Bharthana, as toll collection is currently based only on axle classification without verifying actual load. This may lead to revenue losses and gaps in compliance with regulations.