Starting August 15, 2025, private vehicle owners in India will be able to benefit from a new FASTag-based annual toll pass. Announced by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and formalized through a gazette notification dated June 17, this initiative aims to streamline toll payments, reduce delays, and ease congestion at National Highway toll plazas.
The FASTag annual toll pass is a prepaid fixed-cost toll facility priced at ₹3,000. It is intended to offer unlimited access through National Highway toll booths, subject to a limit of 200 crossings or one year of validity, whichever occurs first.
The key advantage of the pass is that it eliminates the need for repeated deductions at each toll plaza, offering seamless travel for eligible users.
The facility is exclusively for private, non-commercial vehicles such as:
Cars
Jeeps
Vans
To avail the pass, the vehicle must meet the following criteria:
Valid registration
An active FASTag
This scheme is not available to commercial vehicles like trucks, buses, or taxis.
A new feature of this toll pass system is the way crossings are measured. According to the notification:
In closed-loop toll systems (where both entry and exit are tracked), a complete round trip will be treated as one crossing.
This provision ensures fair toll usage calculation and helps avoid duplicate or double charges, making the system more transparent for users.
Users can activate or renew their FASTag annual pass using digital platforms soon to be made available. The government will roll out a dedicated link on:
The Rajmarg Yatra App
The official MoRTH website
The NHAI portal
To complete activation, vehicle owners will need to submit:
Vehicle registration details
FASTag ID
This process aims to simplify access and promote digital toll management.
The annual pass is currently priced at ₹3,000, but it will be revised annually from April 1 each year. This revision will be made under Rule 3C of the National Highways Fee (Amendment) Rules, 2025, and follow Rule 5 of the principal rules.
Revisions will account for inflation, policy updates, or other economic factors as determined by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
The toll pass addresses several key pain points for frequent highway travelers, such as:
Frequent deductions at every toll plaza
Traffic congestion at toll booths
Uncertainty in toll charges
By enabling one-time payment, the pass enhances convenience and ensures faster transit through toll plazas.
According to Jagannarayan Padmanabhan, Senior Director & Global Head at Crisil Market Intelligence and Analytics:
The average Indian private vehicle covers 10,000 km/year, mostly outside the national highway system.
Hence, the financial impact on toll operators may be minimal.
However, for those who drive more than 2,500–3,000 km annually on highways, this pass could offer significant cost savings, making it an attractive choice for regular intercity travelers.
Conclusion: A Game-Changer for Frequent Highway Travelers
The FASTag annual toll pass is set to transform highway travel for millions of Indian vehicle owners by offering an affordable, seamless, and digitally managed solution. With its launch on August 15, the initiative is a step toward more efficient and tech-driven toll collection, promising long-term benefits for both users and the national infrastructure ecosystem.