From August 15, highway travel in India could become faster and more predictable as the National Highways Authority of India launches a ₹3,000 FASTag Annual Pass. Designed for private vehicles, the scheme offers either one year of validity or 200 toll crossings, aiming to cut congestion, streamline digital payments, and give frequent travellers cost certainty. Officials say the move is the biggest upgrade yet to the nation’s electronic toll system.
The annual pass is designed for non-commercial four-wheelers such as private cars, jeeps, and vans, offering unlimited access for one year or up to 200 toll booth crossings, whichever comes first. The move is aimed at making toll transactions seamless while addressing bottlenecks at high-traffic highway points. Officials involved in the project describe it as a “major upgrade” that will help shift a substantial share of road users towards fully digital toll systems.Available from 15 August, the pass can be purchased through the Rajmarg Yatra mobile application, NHAI and Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) websites, or from authorised FASTag service providers. Once activated, it integrates directly with the user’s existing FASTag, removing the need for repeated top-ups or multiple online payments. Travellers simply need to ensure their FASTag is linked to their vehicle’s registration number and functioning correctly before purchase.
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The ₹3,000 fee is payable via multiple digital methods, including credit or debit cards, UPI, and net banking. While the pass is valid across all toll plazas under NHAI and MoRTH, it excludes commercial vehicle-only toll points and state-operated routes. Upon reaching the 200-use limit or the one-year expiry, the FASTag reverts to the standard pay-per-use mode without any disruption to travel.Highway planners believe the scheme will have wider benefits beyond just user convenience. With predictable annual toll revenue, infrastructure managers can plan upgrades more effectively, and fewer cash transactions at toll plazas are expected to reduce environmental impact by cutting idling times and fuel wastage. In addition, shorter queues could encourage more people to take intercity trips, improving connectivity for smaller towns along national highways.
Digital toll solutions have been steadily gaining ground in India, and this scheme could accelerate the transition towards a fully cashless system. Experts highlight that a fixed-price model like this not only benefits heavy travellers but could also encourage private vehicle owners to plan journeys more efficiently, knowing their toll costs are already covered for the year.If the adoption rate meets expectations, NHAI’s ₹3,000 annual pass could serve as a blueprint for future nationwide tolling reforms, potentially expanding to multi-vehicle family passes or state-specific variants. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether India’s road users embrace this prepaid, eco-friendly model of highway travel.
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India To Launch Rs 3000 FASTag Annual Pass On August 15
