New FASTag Annual Pass: Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced in an X post on Wednesday that the government will launch an annual FASTag-based pass costing ₹3,000. He stated that the pass will be available exclusively for non-commercial private vehicles. Authorities will issue the pass on August 15, and it will remain valid for either 200 trips or one year from the activation date, whichever comes first.

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Important Announcement 📢

🔹In a transformative step towards hassle-free highway travel, we are introducing a FASTag-based Annual Pass priced at ₹3,000, effective from 15th August 2025. Valid for one year from the date of activation or up to 200 trips—whichever comes…

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) June 18, 2025

Rajmarg Yatra App:

Nitin Gadkari announced that the annual pass will enable commuters to travel smoothly and economically across national highways nationwide. He added that the Rajmarg Yatra App, along with the official websites of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), will soon feature a dedicated link for activation and renewal.

He explained that this new strategy simplifies toll payments by converting them into a single, cost-effective transaction. It also addresses long-standing concerns regarding toll plazas located within a 60-kilometer radius. The annual pass aims to benefit millions of private vehicle owners by reducing wait times, easing traffic congestion, and minimizing disputes at toll booths. Last month, Gadkari had indicated that the government was working on a new toll policy to make highway travel more affordable and convenient for daily commuters.

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There were two types of new passes rumored at the time:

Annual: Private vehicles would be able to travel on state and national highways for a year without incurring additional tolls if they paid Rs 3,000 for a one-time FASTag recharge.

Distance-based: According to sources, a flat toll of Rs 50 per 100 kilometers could take the place of the current toll plaza price structure for people who do not choose to use the annual model.

Although the former has been declared, it is uncertain whether the latter will likewise be operationalized by Mr. Gadkari’s minister. A previous idea for a “lifetime FASTag” that would have cost an incredible Rs 30,000 and only be valid for 15 years was, incidentally, abandoned by the government. In order to provide barrier-free mobility, the new system will make use of the current FASTag infrastructure but eventually replace toll booths with sensor-based collecting systems that rely on GPS and automated vehicle monitoring.

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