Patna: Authorities on a key stretch of National Highway 30 in Bihar are preparing to crack down on overloaded vehicles, with plans to impose double and quadruple toll charges through electronic payment systems.
Around 100 overloaded vehicles are estimated to pass daily along the 50.6km four-lane corridor between Sipara in Patna and Bakhtiyarpur. At present, standard toll fees are collected via FASTag, while additional charges for excess weight are taken in cash.
Under new rules issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, toll operators are introducing a system to automatically deduct higher penalties from overloaded vehicles. Vehicles carrying more than 10% excess weight will be charged double the standard toll, while those exceeding 40% will face a fourfold charge. The system is expected to be operational within the next two to three weeks, according to toll manager Prabhakar Singh.
Until the transition is complete, excess weight charges will continue to be collected manually at a rate equivalent to a single toll fee, alongside the standard FASTag deduction.
To support enforcement, a slow-speed weigh-in-motion system has been installed across 12 lanes at the toll plaza. Vehicles must pass over sensor plates at speeds below 20km/h to ensure accurate measurement. If drivers dispute the readings, vehicles can be rechecked using a conventional weighbridge at the site.
Officials said vehicles carrying up to 10% excess load are currently exempt from additional charges. Beyond that threshold, penalties apply. Prescribed weight limits vary by vehicle type, ranging from 18.5 tonnes for six-wheelers to 55 tonnes for 18-wheeled vehicles.
The move is part of broader efforts to curb overloading, which is a major contributor to road damage and safety risks on highways.
