Planning a trip from Varanasi to Prayagraj? Whether you’re travelling for the Kumbh Mela, a family pilgrimage, a business visit, or a group outing, one of the first questions every traveller asks is: how much toll tax will I pay on this route, and which taxi should I book?
This guide answers both questions in one place. We’ll break down the exact toll plaza on the Varanasi–Prayagraj highway, the toll charges by vehicle type (including 12, 16, 20, and 24-seater Tempo Travellers and Urbania vans), and why booking with Chikucab — the best taxi for Varanasi to Prayagraj — takes the guesswork out of your journey entirely.
Between Varanasi and Prayagraj, there is one toll plaza — Lalanagar Toll Plaza — located on NH-19 in the Handia-to-Rajatalab stretch (Bhadohi district, Uttar Pradesh). The toll amount depends on your vehicle category:
| Vehicle Category | Single Journey | Return Journey (within 24 hrs) |
| Car / Jeep / Van (private car, sedan, small SUV) | ₹240 | ₹365 |
| LCV / Mini-Bus (12–17 seater Tempo Traveller, 12-seater Urbania) | ₹390 | ₹585 |
| Bus / Truck (20–26 seater Tempo Traveller & Urbania, 2-axle mini-bus) | ₹820 | ₹1,230 |
(Rates effective 1 April 2026, as notified for Lalanagar Toll Plaza on NH-19. Toll rates are revised annually by NHAI, so always confirm the current rate before travel.)
When you book with Chikucab, none of this matters to you directly — toll tax is already built into your quoted fare, so there’s no separate cash payment or FASTag top-up to worry about.
About the Varanasi–Prayagraj Route
Varanasi and Prayagraj (Allahabad) are connected by NH-19, one of the busiest and best-maintained national highways in eastern Uttar Pradesh. The route runs through Handia and Rajatalab, covering a distance of roughly 120–130 km, which typically takes 2.5 to 3 hours by road depending on traffic and your starting/ending point within each city.
This corridor sees heavy traffic year-round — pilgrims travelling between the two holiest cities on the Ganga, families visiting relatives, students, and business travellers. During events like Kumbh Mela or Magh Mela, traffic and demand both spike, so pre-booking a taxi is the safest way to avoid last-minute price surges or vehicle unavailability.
Lalanagar Toll Plaza: What You Need to Know
Lalanagar Toll Plaza is the only fee point on this stretch of NH-19, run under a public-funded highway project with six toll lanes. A few practical details:
- Location: Handia–Rajatalab section of NH-19, roughly midway on the Varanasi–Prayagraj corridor.
- Payment mode: FASTag is accepted (and effectively mandatory — vehicles without a valid FASTag are charged double the applicable toll under NHAI rules).
- Return journey discount: If you cross the plaza again within 24 hours, you pay the discounted return-journey rate instead of two single-journey charges.
- Local resident concession: Non-commercial vehicles registered within 20 km of the plaza qualify for a heavily discounted monthly pass, though this isn’t relevant for most outstation travellers.
Toll Tax Charges by Vehicle Type
Toll plazas in India classify vehicles by axle count and body type rather than exact seating capacity, so here’s how the common vehicles used on this route line up.
Car, Sedan & SUV (Innova, Innova Crysta, Ertiga, Dzire)
These fall under the Car/Jeep/Van category — the standard rate for any private taxi, sedan, or SUV used for one-way or round-trip travel.
- One-way toll: ₹240
- Round trip (return within 24 hrs): ₹365
12-Seater and 16-Seater Tempo Traveller / 12-Seater Urbania
Mini-vans and Tempo Travellers in the 12–17 seat range are classified as Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) / mini-buses at the toll plaza.
- One-way toll: ₹390
- Round trip (return within 24 hrs): ₹585
17-Seater Urbania
The 17-seater Urbania also falls in the LCV/mini-bus bracket, same as the 12- and 16-seater Tempo Traveller.
- One-way toll: ₹390
- Round trip (return within 24 hrs): ₹585
20-Seater and 24-Seater Tempo Traveller / Urbania
Larger group vehicles (20-seater and 24-seater Tempo Traveller or Urbania) are typically billed under the Bus/Truck (2-axle) category at toll plazas, since their length and axle configuration match standard mini-buses.
- One-way toll: ₹820
- Round trip (return within 24 hrs): ₹1,230
Good to know: Exact toll classification can occasionally vary by a vehicle’s registered axle configuration rather than seat count alone. If you’re booking a large group vehicle, Chikucab confirms the correct toll category for your specific vehicle at the time of booking, so your quoted fare is accurate — not an estimate.
One-Way vs Round-Trip Toll: What’s the Real Difference?
A common point of confusion is thinking “round trip toll” simply means paying the one-way toll twice. It doesn’t. NHAI’s return-journey rate is a discounted combined fare for crossing the same plaza in both directions within 24 hours — it’s cheaper than two separate single-journey charges. For example, a Car/Jeep/Van pays ₹240 one-way, but ₹365 for a same-day return — not ₹480. This discount applies automatically when FASTag registers both crossings within the 24-hour window.
If your round trip spans more than 24 hours (for example, an overnight stay in Prayagraj before returning), you’ll be charged two separate one-way tolls instead of the return rate.
Toll Tax vs. Taxi Fare: What’s Actually Included?
Many first-time travellers assume “taxi fare” and “toll tax” are the same thing — they’re not.
- Toll tax is a fixed government charge collected at the plaza, based purely on vehicle category.
- Taxi fare covers the driver’s service, fuel, vehicle wear, and the operator’s margin, and is what you actually negotiate or book online.
When a fare is advertised as “toll included,” it means the operator has already added the applicable toll amount into your final quote, so you won’t be asked to pay cash at the plaza or reimburse the driver separately. This is exactly how Chikucab structures every quote — the price you see at booking is the price you pay, toll and all.
How to Avoid Hidden Toll Charges When Booking a Taxi
- Always ask upfront whether the quoted fare is toll-inclusive or toll-exclusive.
- Get it in writing — a confirmation message or booking receipt that states “toll included” protects you from last-minute add-ons.
- Match the vehicle to the trip — a 12-seater Tempo Traveller booked for a 20-person group will need a larger vehicle anyway, and last-minute upgrades often come with unclear toll recalculations.
- Book with a transparent local operator rather than an unregistered driver, since established operators like Chikucab price toll and driver charges separately in the breakdown, so you can see exactly what you’re paying for.
Why Chikucab Is the Best Taxi for Varanasi to Prayagraj
Chikucab operates a full range of vehicles for this route — sedans, SUVs, and 12, 16, 17, 20, and 24-seater Tempo Traveller and Urbania vans — with fares that already factor in the Lalanagar toll charge for both one-way and round trips. Here’s what that means for you as a traveller:
- No surprise cash payments at the toll booth — your driver handles FASTag payment as part of the service.
- Accurate group vehicle pricing, since larger Tempo Traveller and Urbania bookings are quoted with the correct toll category already applied.
- Clear one-way and round-trip options, so you know exactly what a same-day return costs versus an overnight trip.
- Local drivers who know NH-19 well, including peak-traffic timings around Handia and Rajatalab, which matters most during festival season and Kumbh Mela.
Whether you need a comfortable sedan for two, an Innova Crysta for a family, or a 20-seater Tempo Traveller for a group pilgrimage, Chikucab’s toll-inclusive pricing means the fare you’re quoted is the fare you pay — nothing more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the toll tax from Varanasi to Prayagraj?
For a standard car, sedan, or SUV, the toll is ₹240 one-way and ₹365 for a same-day round trip at Lalanagar Toll Plaza. Larger vehicles like Tempo Travellers and Urbania vans are charged more, based on their vehicle category.
How many toll plazas are there between Varanasi and Prayagraj?
Just one — Lalanagar Toll Plaza, located on NH-19 in the Handia-to-Rajatalab section.
Is toll tax included in Chikucab’s taxi fare?
Yes. Chikucab quotes are toll-inclusive, so you don’t pay any separate charge at the plaza.
What is the toll tax for a 12-seater or 16-seater Tempo Traveller?
Both fall under the LCV/mini-bus category, charged at ₹390 one-way and ₹585 for a same-day round trip.
What is the toll tax for a 17-seater Urbania?
The same as the 12- and 16-seater category — ₹390 one-way and ₹585 for a same-day round trip.
What is the toll tax for a 20-seater or 24-seater Tempo Traveller or Urbania?
These larger vehicles typically fall under the Bus/Truck (2-axle) category, at ₹820 one-way and ₹1,230 for a same-day round trip.
Does the round-trip toll rate apply automatically?
Yes, as long as you cross the same toll plaza in both directions within 24 hours via FASTag. If more than 24 hours pass between crossings, you’re charged two separate one-way tolls.
Is FASTag mandatory on this route?
Effectively yes — vehicles without a valid, sufficiently funded FASTag are charged double the toll fee under NHAI rules. All Chikucab vehicles carry active FASTag.
Is there a toll-free route from Varanasi to Prayagraj?
NH-19 via Lalanagar is the fastest and most direct route. Alternate local roads may avoid the toll plaza but typically add significant travel time, making them impractical for most travellers.
How much does a Varanasi to Prayagraj taxi cost including toll?
This depends on the vehicle type and whether you need a one-way or round trip. Contact Chikucab for a live, toll-inclusive quote based on your exact travel dates and vehicle preference.
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