The government has announced a new FASTag pass that will be issued for ₹3000 and will be valid for one year. Under this pass, passenger vehicles will be allowed up to 200 trips, leading to significant savings. This scheme is especially beneficial for those who frequently travel on national highways.
To make the toll system simpler and more convenient, the central government has taken a significant step. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced that starting from August 15, an annual toll pass will be introduced across the country. This Annual FASTag Pass will be available for just ₹3000, allowing passenger vehicles (such as cars, jeeps, and other similar vehicles) to cross toll plazas up to 200 times in a year. This means that each trip will cost only around ₹15, compared to the current toll charges of ₹50 to ₹80 per trip.
The government claims that this initiative will help reduce congestion on national highways and allow vehicles to pass through toll plazas more quickly without stopping, thereby saving time. Following the announcement by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, many questions have arisen in people’s minds regarding this new system. We have gathered answers to some of the most important questions that may be helpful for you.
1. Why Was This Toll Pass Needed?
Although a monthly FASTag pass is already available and users can recharge their FASTag whenever required, the question arises—why was there a need for this annual pass? The reason is that with the regular FASTag, money is deducted each time you cross a toll plaza. However, with this new ₹3000 annual pass, users get 200 trips included, resulting in significant cost savings. This is especially beneficial for those who frequently travel on national highways.
2. How Much Money Will Be Saved?
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari stated that crossing 200 toll plazas typically costs around ₹10,000. However, with the new annual FASTag pass, the same can now be done for just ₹3000. This means that passenger vehicle owners can save up to ₹7000.
3. What Happens After 200 Trips Are Exhausted?
When you purchase the annual FASTag pass, you are allowed 200 trips. Once these 200 trips are used up, you will need to recharge your FASTag as usual. If you prefer, you can also opt to purchase the one-year pass again.
4. Will This Pass Work at All Toll Plazas?
If you think this pass will work at every toll plaza, that’s not correct. The annual FASTag pass is valid only at toll plazas on national highways across India. Whether you’re traveling from Delhi to Mumbai or Chennai to Bengaluru, the pass will be scanned and the payment will be processed at national highway tolls. However, this pass is not valid on state highways or local toll plazas.
5. Why Is the Government Introducing This Rule?
The main objective of the government and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is to simplify and improve the toll system. This initiative aims to reduce long queues of vehicles at toll plazas, encourage greater use of digital payments, and minimize disputes between toll staff and travelers. Ultimately, the goal is to make highway travel smoother, more convenient, and stress-free.
6. What Is the 60-Kilometer Rule?
Many people have raised concerns about toll plazas located within a 60-kilometer radius of their regular routes. Since they often have to pass through these tolls multiple times a week, it results in higher expenses. However, with the new annual FASTag pass, this issue will be resolved, as frequent travelers within this range can now save significantly on toll costs.
7. How Can You Get This FASTag Pass?
The most important question is—how can you obtain this pass? The process will be very simple. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will soon provide a dedicated link on the ‘Rajmarg Yatra’ app as well as on the official websites of NHAI and MoRTH. Once available, users will be able to apply for the pass through these platforms.