Annual local FASTag pass starts November 1

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified an annual local FASTag pass for eligible private vehicle owners living near National Highway toll plazas, with the scheme scheduled to take effect November 1, 2026. The pass will cost Rs 1,500 or Rs 3,000, depending on the plaza’s location, and will apply only to one selected toll plaza. The concession is for owners of private, noncommercial vehicles who live within 20 km of a National Highway fee plaza and have a valid, functional FASTag registered for noncommercial use. Residence within the specified distance is not sufficient on its own: applicants must meet the other conditions in the notification, and the plaza must be covered by the scheme. The annual fee is Rs 1,500 at plazas outside municipal or local town limits and Rs 3,000 at plazas within those limits. The pass is valid for one year and permits repeated crossings at the selected plaza without a toll payment for each crossing. It cannot be used at other plazas or as a general pass for National Highways. The central government may revise the rates annually, with changes taking effect on April 1. The rules exclude National Highways and expressways where tolls...