Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 18: In a move aimed at making highway travel more efficient and economical for private vehicle owners, union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari has announced the launch of a FASTag-based annual pass, effective from August 15, 2025.
The new pass, priced at Rs 3,000, will be available for private non-commercial vehicles such as cars, jeeps, and vans. It will be valid for either one year from activation or for 200 trips, whichever is reached first.
Designed to streamline toll payments and ease traffic congestion at toll plazas, the initiative also addresses long-standing concerns about toll booths located within 60 km of each other and frequent disputes at collection points. The pass is expected to reduce wait times, improve travel convenience, and simplify toll transactions into a single, affordable payment.
Users will be able to activate and renew their passes through the Rajmarg Yatra App and official websites of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
For closed tolling systems like the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, each trip is calculated from entry to exit, with toll deducted at the exit point. On open tolling routes such as Delhi-Chandigarh, each toll plaza crossing is counted as a separate trip. Once users exhaust the 200-trip limit, they can recharge their accounts as needed.
At present, regular commuters can avail of monthly passes by submitting address proof and documents, paying Rs 340 per month or Rs 4,080 annually. The new annual pass provides a more flexible and user-friendly alternative.
According to 2023–24 data, private vehicles made up 53% of toll transactions but contributed only Rs 8,000 crore of the total Rs 55,000 crore toll revenue. While commercial vehicles operate round the clock, private vehicles dominate highway traffic between 6 am and 10 pm.
Gadkari previously hinted at plans for car-owner-friendly passes, and officials view this initiative as a comprehensive step toward resolving urban toll concerns and enhancing the driving experience across India’s national highways.