The Government of India, through the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), has announced a new FASTag Annual Pass. It is being launched with the objective to revolutionize toll payments and highway travel across the country.
This initiative will surely simplify toll payments, reduce congestion at toll plazas, and offer significant convenience for frequent highway users. Read along to know more about the features, launch date, benefits and how to activate this new annual pass.
Key Features of the New FASTag Annual Pass
Flat Annual Fee for Unlimited Travel: Rs 3000
Vehicle owners can pay a one-time recharge of Rs 3,000 per year to benefit from unlimited travel across all national highways, state expressways, and other toll roads in India. Throughout the year, there are no additional tolls to pay.
Dual Toll Payment Options: To accommodate various user types, the policy will implement two payment models:
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For unlimited highway travel, an annual pass costs Rs 3,000.
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Distance-Based Pricing: For occasional users, a pay-as-you-go model charging Rs 50 per 100 kilometers traveled is proposed, making toll payments fairer and more flexible.
No New Documentation Required:
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Current FASTag customers can still use their existing accounts and opt for the new annual pass system without filing new documentation or revising their profiles as per their choice.
Cancellation of Lifetime FASTag Plan:
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The earlier proposed lifetime FASTag pass that would cost Rs 30,000 for 15 years has been discontinued. Instead, the new system looks at the more flexible annual pass system.
Barrier-Free Tolling:
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The government will phase out physical toll barriers and legacy sensor-based toll collection systems to introduce a complete barrier-free tolling regime. This will ease traffic congestion, save fuel, and facilitate quicker and smoother highway travel.
Compensation and Anti-Evasion Measures:
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MoRTH is formulating compensation models for highway contractors to neutralize revenue losses and giving banks the authority to mandate minimum FASTag balances to prevent toll evasion.
New FASTag Annual Pass: Launch Date and Implementation Status
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The policy for FASTag Annual Pass is being reviewed and discussed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
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Although no rollout date has been officially announced yet, the government is still actively developing the framework, including compensation measures and infrastructure enhancements for barrier-free tolling.
Where and How to Activate the FASTag Annual Pass
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The annual pass will be connected with existing FASTag accounts. It will have easy activation through the existing FASTag platforms or apps without requiring new registrations or paperwork.
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Vehicle owners can enroll in the scheme by recharging their FASTag with the Rs 3,000 annual charge online through their FASTag issuer's portal or app.
The switch is hoped to be seamless, making it easy for existing FASTag users to shift to the new system without impacting their travel.
This new FASTag Annual Pass is set to revolutionize highway driving in India by providing a hassle-free, economical, and convenient toll payment option, particularly for frequent highway travelers and transporters.
The barrier-free tolling policy further supplements this by ensuring better traffic movement and lower travel times on national highways. Customers are requested to remain attentive to official communications on the actual launch date and activation process.
