Trip To Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala To Get Costlier As Himachal Pradesh Raises Entry Toll From April 1

Visitors driving into Himachal Pradesh from April 1 will need to factor in a sharp rise in entry toll charges as the state's amended toll policy for 2026 to 2027 comes into force with the new financial year. The revised structure significantly raises fees for private vehicles registered outside the state, while locally registered vehicles remain exempt.

Steep rise for cars and light vehicles

Under the new policy, light motor vehicles including cars, jeeps and vans will now pay Rs 170 per day at entry barriers, up from the existing Rs 70. The hike falls within a broader increase ranging between Rs 30 and Rs 180 depending on the vehicle category.

In contrast, buses and trucks with up to two axles will continue to pay Rs 570, with no change in their toll rate.

Light commercial vehicles and mini buses will be charged Rs 320 per day. Three axle commercial vehicles will have to pay Rs 600, while heavy construction machinery will be charged Rs 800. Oversized vehicles with seven or more axles will be required to pay Rs 900 for passage through the state's toll gates.

The policy specifies that entry fees will be collected at designated barriers and Fastag will be mandatory for all vehicles.

55 barriers across the state

At present, there are 55 toll barriers across Himachal Pradesh. With the revised charges set to take effect, both tourist traffic and freight movement costs are expected to rise, potentially impacting transport fares and logistics expenses.

Officials said that auctions for toll barriers will now be conducted online. A district level monitoring committee headed by the respective district magistrate will oversee operations to ensure compliance and transparency.

New multi lane toll points to ease congestion

To tackle traffic bottlenecks at key entry points, the government has proposed multi lane free flow toll barriers at Parwanoo Main and Tipra bypass in Solan district, and at Garamaura in Bilaspur district. These locations often witness heavy vehicular movement, especially during peak tourist seasons.

The administration believes that upgraded toll infrastructure will help streamline vehicle movement even as collections increase under the revised policy.

Transport bodies oppose decision

The toll hike has drawn sharp criticism from transport operators. The Himachal Pradesh Private Bus Operators Association and the state unit of the Bus and Car Operators Confederation of India have objected strongly to the increase.

Calling it "an attack on the private transport sector", the organisations have sought immediate rollback of the decision. They argued that routes such as Una Jasur via Talwara, Jassur Dhangu via Pathankot, and Una Naina Devi via Nangal function as internal transport corridors, making the imposition of entry toll on these stretches impractical.

With the new rates set to be implemented from April 1, the coming weeks are likely to see continued debate between the state government and transport stakeholders over the impact of the revised toll regime.