National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) introduced the FASTag Annual Pass on 15 August 2025. The scheme is for private vehicle owners, including cars, jeeps, and vans, who use national highways and expressways regularly. The pass is priced at Rs 3,000 and offers either one year of validity or a maximum of 200 trips, whichever is earlier.
Cost And Savings Calculation
The yearly pass has been priced in a way so that it is economical for regular travellers. Users pay Rs 3,000 once, in return for which they get to make 200 toll journeys in the span of a year. This amounts to Rs 15 per journey on average.
The gain can be substantial for people travelling on highways where the toll amount is Rs 50 or higher. For instance, a daily commuter spending Rs 10,000 a year on tolls can lower that figure to Rs 3,000 with the annual pass, saving Rs 7,000 in a year. However, the gain might be less for occasional highway travellers who are not frequent users.
How To Apply
Vehicle owners can buy and activate the annual pass via the Rajmargyatra mobile app, available both on Android and iOS, or via the NHAI portal.
The application process includes logging in, confirming the details of the FASTag account, and payment by the vehicle owner. After purchase, the annual pass is activated for the FASTag connected to the vehicle. Activation is typically done within two hours.
Rules For Counting Trips
The NHAI has imposed strict guidelines on counting trips under the scheme:
On point-based toll plazas, every crossing is considered one trip. A round trip via the same plaza will be regarded as two trips.
At closed toll plazas, which track entry and exit, a full cycle of travel is considered one trip.
This system guarantees consistency in determining the number of trips taken under the annual pass.
Limitations of the FASTag Annual Pass
There are certain limitations on the FASTag Annual Pass that vehicle owners should remember. It covers only toll plazas that are on national highways and expressways controlled by the central government. Tolls charged on state highways, local expressways, or plazas controlled by state governments are not included in the pass, and users will have to pay individually at these places.
The pass cannot be transferred and is specifically attached to one car. If it is used on a different car, the pass will be invalidated.
Optional For Vehicle Owners
The FASTag Annual Pass is optional. The vehicle owners can go on using their FASTag account in the normal manner, paying the tolls directly in proportion to usage. The new scheme has been made available only as an option for offering convenience and potential savings to frequent users of national highways and expressways.
Targeted At Heavy-Usage Highways
With the launch of this scheme, the NHAI expects to relax traffic at toll booths and encourage smoother travel for vehicles that make frequent use of highways. Although the annual pass might not appeal to occasional users, it might become helpful to daily commuters and long-distance drivers who frequently drive across several toll booths.
