New FASTag Rules Kick In From November 15: Cash Toll Doubles While UPI Payments Become Cheaper
The government has brought in new FASTag rules from November 15 to reduce long queues at toll plazas and make highway travel smoother for daily commuters. Under the updated system, cash payments at toll booths will now cost double the normal fee. The change is meant to push more motorists toward digital toll payments and reduce delays caused by cash transactions.
Why the New FASTag Rules Matter
The revised system aims to cut congestion and address frequent complaints from users about technical failures that sometimes lead to unnecessary penalties. With the new norms in place, drivers get a more reliable setup at toll plazas. The option to pay through UPI with a lower surcharge is a big help for those who deal with low FASTag balance or tag-related errors, especially during inter-state travel.
Annual FASTag Pass Introduced Earlier
These updates come a few months after the government launched a yearly FASTag pass on 15 August. The pass costs ₹3,000 and covers 200 toll crossings in a year. Officials expect the average cost per crossing to come down to about ₹15, which benefits regular highway users who often travel on National Highways and Expressways managed by NHAI and the Ministry of Road Transport.
Limitations of the New FASTag Pass
The pass has certain restrictions. It works only on national highways and expressways under NHAI. It does not apply to state highways or private corridors such as the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, Yamuna Expressway and Agra–Lucknow Expressway. It is also allowed only for private vehicles registered in the VAHAN database. Commercial vehicles cannot use it.
How to Activate the FASTag Annual Pass
Motorists do not need to buy a fresh FASTag to use the annual pass. Their existing tag simply needs to be active, correctly linked to the vehicle registration number and free from blacklist issues. The pass can be purchased using the Rajmarg Yatra app or the NHAI website. Once the details are verified, the pass becomes active within two hours. It is non-transferable and stays locked to one vehicle for the entire year.
