No More Toll Booth Hassles: FASTag’s Annual Pass Promises a Year of Seamless Road Trips

In a maiden move to allow payment of tolls to make traveling on highways easier and less expensive, the Government of India will launch the FASTag Annual Pass on August 15, 2025. The new pass has been announced by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and aims at frequent users of private vehicles, with substantial saving of cost and hassle-free travel on all National Highways and Expressways of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

 

Key Highlights:

Launch Date & Price: Launched from August 15, 2025, for a yearly tariff of ₹3,000.

 

Eligibility: Private non-commercial vehicles only (cars, jeeps, vans). Commercial vehicles are not eligible.

 

Validity: One year from the date of activation or 200 journeys, whichever is earlier.

 

Coverage: Accepted at all NHAI-operated National Highways and Expressways toll plazas. Does not apply to state highways and private toll roads.

 

Savings: Priced to save customers ₹6,000–₹7,000 a year compared to monthly toll passes with up to 70% savings on tolls for frequent commuters.

 

No Top-Ups Monthly: Does away with monthly recharging or individual passes to visit different plazas.

 

Digital Activation: Can be activated via Rajmarg Yatra mobile app or NHAI portal after FASTag and vehicle verification.

 

Activation Process:

Trip Counting: Each toll crossing counts one trip at open plazas; one entry-exit pair counts one trip at closed tolling plazas.

 

Automatic Reversion: The FASTag will automatically revert to the traditional pay-per-use system after 200 journeys or one year.

 

This project is expected to reduce jams, waiting times, and confrontations at toll booths, facilitating long-distance and frequent highway travel and making it more convenient and easy for millions of Indians.

 

Source: NDTV, India Today, Indian Express, Paytm Blog, Times of India