Remember the days of digging for loose change at toll plazas while the car behind honked like it was late for a wedding baraat? Those days may soon become part of highway nostalgia. Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced a new FASTag-based annual pass priced at Rs 3,000, aimed at making highway travel more seamless and cost-effective for non-commercial private vehicles.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Gadkari said the pass will be issued from August 15 and will be valid for one year from the date of activation or up to 200 trips, whichever comes first. This means private vehicle owners could potentially zip across national highways without stopping to pay tolls every few kilometres—until the 200-trip mark hits, that is.
“The annual pass will enable seamless and cost-effective travel across National Highways throughout the country. A dedicated link for activation and renewal will soon be made available on the Rajmarg Yatra App as well as on the official websites of NHAI and MoRTH,” he said.
This development follows last month’s reports that the government was working on a new toll policy to ease travel and reduce costs for frequent commuters. At the time, there was speculation about two models. One proposed a one-time FASTag recharge for Rs 3,000 to allow travel across national highways and state expressways for a year without additional toll charges. The second model suggested a distance-based toll system with a flat rate of Rs 50 per 100 kilometres, potentially replacing the current per-plaza fee structure. While the first model has now been announced, the status of the second remains unclear.
Incidentally, the government had earlier shelved a proposal for a ‘lifetime FASTag’ priced at Rs 30,000, which would have been valid for 15 years. That idea appears to have been deemed a little too futuristic—or expensive—for the current context.
“This policy addresses long-standing concerns regarding toll plazas located within a 60 km range and simplifies toll payments through a single, affordable transaction. By reducing wait times, easing congestion, and minimising disputes at toll plazas, the annual pass aims to deliver a faster and smoother travel experience for millions of private vehicle owners,” Gadkari said.
The new system will continue to use the existing FASTag infrastructure, but it’s designed as a stepping stone toward a more advanced model. The future version will likely replace toll booths altogether, introducing GPS-based tracking and sensor-driven, automated toll collection systems to enable truly barrier-free travel.
Come August 15, Indian highways might just get a little less noisy—and a lot more efficient.
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