FASTag Annual Pass: Nitin Gadkari reveals how commuters can save big over the year

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced a new scheme called the FASTag Annual Pass, which will help commuters save a big amount of money while traveling on National Highways. The new plan will start from August 15, 2025 and is specially designed for frequent travelers.

Under this new system, people who earlier spent about Rs 10,000 per year on tolls will now need to pay just Rs 3,000. With this one-time payment, they will get 200 toll crossings per year. This means that the average cost per toll will come down to just Rs 15. According to Gadkari, commuters will be able to save Rs 7,000 annually.

What is the FASTag Annual Pass?

The FASTag Annual Pass is a prepaid plan linked to your existing FASTag account. It allows up to 200 trips per year across toll plazas on National Highways and National Expressways. One trip means crossing one toll plaza, and in some cases, a trip includes entry and exit combined.

For example:

• If you travel on an open toll system, like the Delhi-Chandigarh Highway, each toll booth crossing is counted as one trip.

• But on closed toll systems, like the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, where toll is collected at exit points only, one trip includes both entry and exit.

Gadkari explained that earlier people had to stop at each toll booth and pay the amount, leading to delays and long queues. With this annual pass, there will be no need to stop repeatedly, and your toll amount will already be covered for 200 trips. This will make travel faster and cheaper.

Who can use this pass?

The scheme is open to all commuters using National Highways, especially those who travel frequently, like daily office commuters, transporters, or traders. But there are some important conditions:

• The pass is only valid on National Highways and National Expressways.

• On State Highways or toll plazas managed by state governments, your FASTag will work normally, and regular toll charges will apply.

• The scheme is available to all FASTag users, but only if:

  • The FASTag is properly pasted on the vehicle's windshield.

  • It is linked to a valid Vehicle Registration Number (VRN).

  • The FASTag is not blacklisted.

Once the 200 trips in a year are used, you can recharge the annual pass again. There is no limit on the number of recharges. So, if you use the highways very often and finish your trips early, you can keep buying another 200-trip pack for Rs 3,000 again.

The idea is to encourage people to use FASTag-based toll payments, which are quick, automatic, and reduce congestion at toll booths. The government hopes this will also reduce the number of toll plazas within short distances, especially those located within 60 km of each other.

If you already use FASTag and your tag is valid, you do not need to buy a new one to use this scheme. The government said your current FASTag will work if it follows all the rules. You will just need to opt into the annual pass plan and pay the Rs 3,000.

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The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) clarified that your FASTag must be:

• Properly pasted

• Not expired or blacklisted

• Linked to correct vehicle details

You can check these details using the FASTag app or your bank’s portal, depending on where your FASTag was issued.

The FASTag Annual Pass is likely to help lakhs of daily commuters who travel on the same route often. For example, those who travel between nearby cities like Gurgaon and Delhi, or Navi Mumbai and Pune, will find the scheme highly useful.

Currently, many people pay large sums over the year just for tolls. This scheme can cut those expenses by more than half. Moreover, it will also speed up traffic at toll plazas and reduce fuel wastage caused by idling vehicles.

According to Gadkari, the decision shows the government's commitment to improving transport convenience, lowering travel costs, and adopting digital toll systems more widely.

Reduces waiting and fuel wastage

One of the biggest problems on highways is waiting at toll plazas. Long queues waste time and fuel. The new FASTag Annual Pass will help reduce this problem. Since the toll fee will be prepaid and already included in the pass, there will be less cash handling, fewer stops, and faster movement.

Also, it will help people plan their yearly travel budgets in advance. Instead of worrying about how much you pay every time you cross a toll, you just pay once and travel up to 200 times freely.

Gadkari said this is a part of the government’s larger vision to promote seamless travel and make the country’s transport system more efficient.