Toll plazas go cashless from April 1, FASTag annual pass prices also go up

Toll payments across India’s national highways and expressways have gone fully digital from April 1st, with cash lanes removed. Payments will be accepted only through FASTag or digital methods like UPI. Drivers are directed to use FASTag or UPI for transactions, aimed at reducing wait times and improving transparency. 

For regular highway users, this could mean faster journeys. Without cash lanes, vehicles are expected to move quicker through toll plazas, especially during peak hours. Less stopping also means lower fuel use and fewer emissions, something authorities have been trying to address for years.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has also announced that the FASTag annual pass fee for private, non-commercial vehicles has risen from ₹3,000 to ₹3,075. While the ₹75 increase is modest, it marks the first price revision for the scheme and could prompt users to reassess value depending on usage. The new rate applies specifically to non-commercial vehicles that are equipped with a valid FASTag.

The pass can be used at approximately 1,150 fee plazas on National Highways and National Expressways nationwide.

What is FASTag?

FASTag is a mandatory electronic toll collection system that uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to let users automatically pay toll charges without stopping at toll plazas. A FASTag sticker with an RFID chip is stuck on the vehicle's windshield, which is then scanned at the toll plaza to automatically deduct toll charges.

The FASTag annual pass was launched in August last year and is aimed at eliminating the need to frequently recharge FASTag for frequent travellers. The scheme offers a prepaid, one-time payment option for private, non-commercial vehicles such as cars, jeeps, or vans. The annual pass is especially useful for people who travel from city to city, such as those travelling within NCR, and individuals who frequently make trips to their hometowns.