The expressway speeding challan is suddenly the most talked-about traffic topic in India. Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari has said he told officials not to send speeding notices for speeds up to 120 kmph on expressways, and to let drivers off even if they go 20 percent above that.
On a road with a 120 kmph limit, that works out to 144 kmph. Unsurprisingly, the headline “no challan up to 144 kmph” spread fast, from business papers to auto sites, between October 28 and 29, 2026.
But a minister’s remark at a conference is not the same as a change in the law. Here is exactly what Gadkari said, what the rules say today, and what it means for you the next time you drive on an expressway.
What did Nitin Gadkari say about speeding challans?
Gadkari was speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry’s National Conference on Highways of India’s Future. According to the PTI report quoted by Autocar India, NDTV and others, he said:
“Some people are receiving notices on the road due to speed. I have instructed that no notices should be sent for speeds up to 120 kmph. And even above 120, if someone exceeds it by 20 percent, let them go. If someone goes beyond this, issue a challan.”
The Economic Times quoted a slightly different version: “I have directed my officials to allow speed limits of up to 120 km per hour and only issue challans in cases where speed limit exceeds 20% higher than this.”
NDTV reported that the instruction was aimed at reducing unnecessary notices on roads such as the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, where speed limits currently range between 100 and 120 kmph.
Has the expressway speed limit changed?
No. Nothing we have seen changes the legal speed limit. Autocar India, The Economic Times and NDTV Profit all make the same point: the remarks should not be read as a change to the prescribed limits, and drivers should follow the posted signs unless a formal rule or notification says otherwise.
We could not find any new notification from the road transport ministry on this when we checked on October 29. Until one appears, the existing limits and fines apply.
What are the legal speed limits in India today?
India’s national maximum speeds come from a road transport ministry notification, S.O. 1522(E), dated April 6, 2018. These are the top limits. Many stretches have lower posted limits because of curves, junctions or traffic.
| Vehicle class | Expressway (access-controlled) | 4-lane divided highway | Within city limits | Other roads |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars and SUVs (M1, up to 8 passenger seats) | 120 kmph | 100 kmph | 70 kmph | 70 kmph |
| Buses (M2, M3) | 100 kmph | 90 kmph | 60 kmph | 60 kmph |
| Goods vehicles (N category) | 80 kmph | 80 kmph | 60 kmph | 60 kmph |
| Motorcycles | 80 kmph (where allowed) | 80 kmph | 60 kmph | 60 kmph |
| Quadricycles | Not allowed | 60 kmph | 50 kmph | 50 kmph |
| Three-wheelers | Not allowed | 50 kmph | 50 kmph | 50 kmph |
States can also set their own limits on roads they control, so always go by the sign on your stretch.
Is there already a margin before a challan?
Yes, a small one. The same 2018 notification says no action will be taken under Section 183 of the Motor Vehicles Act if the detected speed is within 5 percent of the maximum speed in the notification. On a 120 kmph road, that is up to 126 kmph.
So Gadkari’s remark would, in effect, widen an existing 5 percent cushion to 20 percent. That is a big jump, and it is why road safety concerns came up almost immediately in the coverage.
How are speeding challans issued today?
On expressways, most speeding notices now come from automated cameras rather than police officers with speed guns. The camera records the speed and the number plate, and an e-challan is sent to the registered owner.
Gadkari also asked the industry to support AI-based Advanced Traffic Management Systems, which can detect lane-discipline problems and helmet or seatbelt violations. So enforcement is getting more automated, not less.
What is the fine for overspeeding?
Under Section 183 of the Motor Vehicles Act, as amended in 2019, overspeeding in a light motor vehicle such as a car carries a fine of ₹1,000 to ₹2,000. For a repeat offence, the licence can be impounded. Medium and heavy vehicles face higher fines. States may notify their own compounding amounts within the law.
Expressway speeding challan: what is confirmed and what is not
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Gadkari’s remarks on a 20 percent margin | Confirmed (widely reported, PTI quote) |
| No notices up to 120 kmph on expressways | Stated as his instruction to officials |
| Formal notification changing speed limits | Not issued, as far as we could find |
| 144 kmph threshold on 120 kmph roads | Media calculation from his remarks |
| Same margin on 80 or 100 kmph roads | Not confirmed |
| Applies to state-run expressways | Not confirmed |
| Existing 5 percent tolerance (2018 rule) | In force |
| Overspeeding fine for cars | ₹1,000 to ₹2,000 (MV Act Section 183) |
Does the 20 percent margin apply to bikes and other roads?
Nobody has said so. NDTV Profit points out that a 20 percent margin on a 100 kmph road would mathematically mean 120 kmph, but there is no confirmation that the margin will apply to roads with different limits.
Motorcycle riders should be extra careful here. The legal maximum for bikes on an expressway is 80 kmph, where bikes are allowed at all. Nothing in the remarks refers to two-wheelers.
What should you do if you already have a speeding challan?
Do not assume it will disappear. The remarks are about future notices, and nothing we have read says existing challans will be cancelled.
Check the challan details on the government’s Parivahan e-challan service or your state traffic police website. Make sure the vehicle number, location, time and recorded speed are correct, and compare the speed with the limit posted on that stretch, not the national maximum.
If something looks wrong, such as a different vehicle or a speed within the 5 percent tolerance, you can contest it through the process listed on the challan, which in many states runs through virtual traffic courts. If it is correct, paying on time avoids extra trouble later, such as delays when you sell or transfer the vehicle.
What else did Gadkari say?
He warned contractors and consultants that poor-quality highways could lead to blacklisting, bans and financial penalties, saying “every pothole will be accounted for”. He asked the public to post highway defects on social media.
He also called the backlash against E20 petrol a “paid campaign”. That came a day after his ministry changed the rules to let flex-fuel vehicles run on up to 100 percent ethanol, which we explained in our E100 flex fuel rule story.
CarBike Insight Analysis
There is a fair point behind the remarks. Many drivers get notices for speeds only a little above the limit on wide, empty expressways built for high speeds, and that breeds resentment.
But a 144 kmph threshold is a different matter. Stopping distances grow fast with speed, and most Indian expressways still see slow trucks, wrong-way vehicles and animals. The same ministry is pushing for mandatory automatic emergency braking in new cars, as we reported in our AEB draft rules story, which shows how seriously it takes crash risk.
Who should change their driving? Nobody, yet. Until a formal order appears, the posted limit and the existing 5 percent cushion are what count. Who should pay attention? Regular expressway users, fleet owners and anyone fighting a recent speeding challan. Keep an eye out for an official notification, much like the rule-based changes in our Delhi non-BS6 vehicle ban explainer.
FAQ
Is there no challan up to 144 kmph on expressways now?
Not officially. Gadkari said he instructed officials to allow a 20 percent margin, but no formal notification changing the rules has been issued.
What is the legal speed limit for cars on Indian expressways?
Up to 120 kmph, under the 2018 notification, unless a lower limit is posted.
Is there any tolerance before a speeding challan?
Yes. The 2018 notification allows 5 percent above the maximum speed before action under Section 183.
What is the fine for overspeeding in a car?
₹1,000 to ₹2,000 under the Motor Vehicles Act, with possible licence impounding for repeat offences.
Does the 20 percent margin apply to motorcycles?
Nothing confirms that. The legal limit for bikes on expressways is 80 kmph, where they are allowed.
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