The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has announced a new initiative for Indian commuters to make journeys on highways and expressways a lot easier: The FASTag annual pass aims to help those who frequently travel through toll plazas on Indian highways and are eager to save on costs. With prices starting at Rs 3,000, this optional new plan is set to become effective from August 15, 2025, thus offering a streamlined toll payment experience for passenger vehicle owners.
The new annual pass is designed for private and non-commercial vehicles such as cars, jeeps, and vans. The government hopes that Its introduction will reduce congestion and improve efficiency at toll plazas nationwide. While the annual pass provides a new payment option, the existing FASTag system will continue to operate without changes, ensuring flexibility for all kinds of road users.
FASTag annual pass key details:
Cost and Validity
The annual pass requires a recharge of at least Rs 3,000. It remains valid for one year or 200 trips, whichever milestone is reached first. Once the time limit or the trip limit is exhausted, the FASTag will revert to its standard pay-per-use functionality. Users who hit the 200-trip limit before the year ends have the option to purchase another annual pass.
Non-transferable
A crucial point for users is that the annual pass is tied to a specific vehicle and cannot be transferred to another vehicle. This ensures that the benefits are utilised by the registered vehicle only.
Toll calculation
Toll charges for the pass are counted based on the system in use at the toll plaza, i.e. per crossing for location-based systems, and per entry/exit for closed toll systems.
Annual fee adjustment
The Ministry has stated that the pass fee may be adjusted annually, with any revisions taking effect from April 1 each year.
How to activate the FASTag Annual Pass:
For those interested in availing this facility, this is how to complete the activation process:
– The vehicle’s eligibility and its linked FASTag must first be verified. This ensures the vehicle type (private, non-commercial) and the FASTag are in good standing.
– Once approved, users must make a payment of Rs 3,000 for the base year 2025–2026. This payment can be conveniently made via the Rajmargyatra mobile app or through the NHAI website.
– After successful payment, the Annual Pass will be automatically enabled on the registered FASTag. Users will receive SMS updates confirming the activation of their annual pass.
For existing FASTag users:
Current FASTag account holders can easily add the Annual Pass to their existing tag, provided it meets certain conditions: the FASTag must be correctly affixed to the vehicle’s windscreen, linked to a valid registration number, and not be blacklisted.
