New FASTag Annual Pass Launched: Unlimited Convenience for Frequent Highway Travelers

Starting August 15, 2025, highway travel in India is set to become far more convenient for private vehicle owners. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), along with NHAI, has introduced a brand-new FASTag-based Annual Pass aimed at simplifying toll payments for regular commuters.

What is the FASTag Annual Pass?

The new system allows private, non-commercial vehicles—such as cars, jeeps, and vans—to purchase an annual prepaid toll pass for ₹3,000. This pass will be valid for a full year or until the user crosses 200 toll plazas, whichever comes first. Unlike existing monthly passes, which are limited to specific toll plazas, this annual pass offers much wider coverage, allowing travel across any national highway or expressway under the FASTag network.

Why is This a Game Changer?

For daily commuters or those who frequently travel long distances, the new plan could result in significant savings. Compared to paying tolls for each trip, this pass could help users save up to ₹7,000 per year, depending on how often they drive on toll roads. It also eliminates the hassle of multiple payments and waiting at toll booths, making road travel smoother and quicker.

How Will It Work?

The process is simple. Existing FASTag users won’t need to buy a new tag. They can activate the annual pass by topping up ₹3,000 using the Rajmarg Yatra app, the NHAI website, or the official MoRTH portal. Once activated, the pass remains valid across India’s entire national highway network until either the annual period ends or 200 trips are completed—whichever occurs first.

The system will apply to both open toll systems (where users pay at each toll plaza) and closed systems (like expressways where charges depend on distance travelled).

How Is This Different from the Current System?

Currently, monthly FASTag passes cost ₹340 and are restricted to a single toll plaza. Over a year, that amounts to ₹4,080 but offers limited flexibility. In comparison, the new ₹3,000 pass provides broader access across the entire highway network, making it a more practical and cost-effective option for many private vehicle owners.

Part of a Bigger Plan

This new initiative is part of the government’s broader goal to create barrierless tolling systems. Technologies like ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) and GPS-based tolling are being tested to eventually eliminate physical toll booths altogether, ensuring fully automated and smooth traffic flow.

To address potential revenue concerns for toll operators, the government is also developing digital mechanisms to track usage and fairly compensate contractors based on actual vehicle movement data.