The central government has announced a new facility to make the journey on the National Highway much easier and cheaper. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has announced to launch the “Fastag Annual Pass” scheme, which will be applicable from 15 August 2025. This annual pass will be valid for vehicles like private (non-commercial) cars, jeeps and vans, whose fees will be Rs 3,000. You will be able to travel on the National Highway and NHAI’s expressway across the country without paying toll again and again. This pass will be valid until one year or 200 trip i.e. toll crosses. Meaning you can either use it for a year or until 200 tolls are crossed – which is earlier.
What is this annual fastag pass?
It will remain valid to one year or a maximum of 200 trip (toll crossing) – which is earlier. This means that if you have crossed the toll 200 times within a year, the nearby validity will end automatically.
Where will it be valid?
This pass can only be used on the National Highway and NHAI (National Highway Authority of India) expressway. For example, you can use this on a highway like Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. However, it will not run on expressways or state highways under state governments such as Yamuna, Agra-Lucknow, Purvanchal and Meerut Expressway. The existing normal fastag will work in these places.
How will this pass work?
- This pass will be connected to the existing RFID-based fastag system.
- This pass will be automatic active at the toll plaza present within a radius of 60 km and the gates will open after the Fastag scan.
- It will only be valid for the vehicle whose fastag on the windshield is registered.
- Pass cannot be transferred. If it is used in another vehicle, it will be deactivated.
- You will not need to take a separate fastag for the annual pass.
- Annual pass cannot be issued on registered fastag with only chassis number.
- To activate the annual pass, you will also have to update the vehicle registration number (VRN).
How to get this pass?
This annual pass you can activate and renew through the highway travel app, NHAI website and the website of the Ministry of Transport. A special link will also be released soon for this.
How much benefit in the year?
According to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, usually 200 trips cost more than Rs 10,000 toll. But this pass will be available for only Rs 3,000, which will cost just Rs 15 per trip.
Right now there is different tax on the toll plaza, such as 50 rupees on someone, 80 on someone and 100 rupees on someone. For example, if the average of 50 rupees is also toll on a toll, then the total toll of Rs 10,000 was done according to 200 plaza, but through this pass, it can be traveled on 200 tolls for just 3 thousand rupees.
Who will get the most benefit?
- People living in metro cities, who travel on the same route daily.
- To those who travel short distance, whose journey is within a radius of 60 km.
- Get rid of the hassle of frequent line and cash payment on the toll plaza.
- What is the purpose of this scheme?
Reducing the crowd and waiting time at the toll plaza.
- Promote digital payment.
- Reducing problems related to Fastag.
- Ensuring smooth and inexpensive travel on the highway.
What will be the changes in the future?
The government is also working towards making the tolling system completely barrier-less. Under this, the ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) technique will be paired with Fastag so that tolls can be deducted from vehicles without stopping. Currently, its trial is going on on a select highway.