Starting November 15, 2025, vehicles entering toll plazas without a valid FASTag will have to pay more. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has amended the National Highways Fee Rules, 2008, introducing differential charges to discourage cash payments and encourage digital transactions.
Vehicles without FASTag will now pay double the toll if opting for cash and 1.25 times if paying via UPI. For example, a ₹100 toll becomes ₹200 in cash or ₹125 via UPI.
A Push Towards Digitalisation and Transparency
Officials said the new rules aim to reduce cash usage, enhance transparency, and streamline toll collection. The move also builds on the success of FASTag, which has 98% penetration and over 8 crore users. Automated tolling has already helped cut congestion and wait times across most national highways.
The introduction of the UPI option is meant to help occasional users or those facing technical issues with their FASTag, providing a convenient alternative while still promoting digital payments.
Annual FASTag Pass for Seamless Travel
In another major step, the government recently launched an Annual FASTag Pass for non-commercial vehicles like cars and jeeps. The pass, costing ₹3,000 for one year or 200 toll crossings, eliminates the need for frequent recharges and can be activated within two hours via the Rajmarg Yatra App or NHAI website.
The pass is valid at 1,150 toll plazas nationwide, further simplifying long-distance travel for frequent highway users.
Part of a Larger Vision for Smarter Highways
With around 45,000 km of national highways under toll collection and 1,200 toll plazas in operation, India’s road infrastructure is undergoing rapid digital transformation. NHAI, which maintains 70,000 km of highways, sees this initiative as part of its broader mission to create faster, more efficient, and technology-driven highways, benefiting millions of commuters daily.
