The Government of Jharkhand on May 13 , 2025 has notified the Jharkhand Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Amendment Rules, 2025, bringing significant updates to the fee structure and enforcement mechanisms for mechanical vehicles transporting goods across the state.
🔑 Key Highlights of the New Rules
🚚 1. Trip-Based Composition User Fee Introduced
- A composition user fee of ₹1200 per trip has been fixed for mechanical vehicles transporting goods, effective from base year 2021.
- Vehicles carrying less than 9 tonnes are exempt from this flat rate.
- The fee is revisable annually by up to 10%, starting April 1 each year.
- Quarterly advance payment is permitted based on previous month’s average trips.
🛑 2. Penalty for Rule Violation
- Failure to pay the composition fee can attract a penalty up to 3 times the due amount.
- Specific slabs introduced for late payments:
- Within 15 days: Penalty = 1x of due fee.
- 15 days – 1 month: Penalty = 2x of due fee.
- After 1 month: Use of state roads barred; maximum penalty imposed.
📋 3. Defined Roles for Assessment and Appeal
- Appellate Authority: Secretary/Principal Secretary/Additional Chief Secretary of the Road Construction Department.
- Assessment Authority: An officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary.
📑 4. Mandatory Fee Payment Linked to Online Documents
- Fee payment is now compulsory for issuing transport documents like:
- Mineral e-challan
- GST e-Way Bill
- VAT, Forest, Excise Transit Passes
- Payments can be made online or offline.
📝 5. Appeal Provision Available
- Vehicle owners can appeal penalties or fee determinations before the Appellate Authority, which has the power to review and revise such orders.
📌 Continuity with Previous Rules
Other provisions of the 2021 Amendment Rules remain unchanged, ensuring policy continuity.
⚖️ Final Note: The government’s objective is to ensure smoother toll fee collection, reduce evasion, and integrate toll payments with digital transport systems for transparency and accountability in mineral and goods transportation.
The amendment, made under Section 2 of The Indian Toll Act (Jharkhand Amendment), 2002, was approved by the State Cabinet and has come into immediate effect from May 13, 2025.
