India’s new FASTag Annual Pass promises unlimited convenience on national highways but excludes several major state and privately managed expressways, raising questions for drivers planning long intercity trips this festive season.
What Is the FASTag Annual Pass?
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) introduced the FASTag Annual Pass on 15 August 2025. The pass allows private non-commercial vehicles—such as cars, jeeps, and vans—to make 200 toll transactions or travel for one year, whichever comes first, for a fixed fee of ₹3,000.
The scheme is accessible through the Rajmargyatra mobile application or the official NHAI website. Once purchased, the pass is linked directly to the vehicle’s registered FASTag, ensuring automatic activation without requiring additional devices.
According to an official statement from NHAI, the move is aimed at “simplifying toll payments and encouraging digital compliance on national highways.”
Where the Pass Does Not Work
While the pass covers NHAI-operated highways and expressways, it does not extend to infrastructure managed by state governments, municipal authorities, or private concessionaires. This means drivers will continue to see toll deductions from their standard FASTag balance when travelling on excluded stretches.
Major Exclusions
- Yamuna Expressway (Uttar Pradesh)
- Dwarka Expressway (Delhi-Haryana)
- Purvanchal Expressway (Uttar Pradesh)
- Bundelkhand Expressway (Uttar Pradesh)
- Agra–Lucknow Expressway (Uttar Pradesh)
- Meerut Expressway (Delhi-Uttar Pradesh)
- Samruddhi Mahamarg (Mumbai–Nagpur)
- Mumbai–Pune Expressway (Maharashtra)
- Ahmedabad–Vadodara Expressway (Gujarat)
- Atal Setu (Goa)
Why These Restrictions Exist
Transport analysts note that tolling systems across India remain fragmented. Expressways built and operated under state government projects or public-private partnerships are financially independent of NHAI.
“Each concessionaire collects tolls to recover construction and maintenance costs. Extending the FASTag Annual Pass to these roads would require complex revenue-sharing agreements,” explained Dr. Ankit Sharma, a transport policy researcher at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.
This separation of toll jurisdictions means that while the annual pass simplifies travel on national highways, drivers must still account for additional costs on certain high-traffic corridors.
Implications for Commuters
The exclusions have practical consequences for frequent travellers. Popular routes such as Delhi–Agra, Mumbai–Pune, and Lucknow–Agra remain outside the coverage of the pass, despite being among India’s busiest expressways.
Experts argue that this may reduce the scheme’s immediate appeal in urbanised regions. However, for long-distance intercity commuters using primarily NHAI-managed roads, the pass still represents significant savings.
Compliance and Enforcement
Alongside the pass, NHAI has also announced a crackdown on “loose FASTags”—devices not affixed to the vehicle windshield. Any improperly installed tag may be blacklisted, resulting in toll lane denial or duplicate charges.
“Correct installation is essential to prevent misuse. Vehicle owners must ensure FASTags are properly affixed and KYC details are updated,” said an NHAI official in a press briefing.
Calls for Broader Integration
Several transport associations have urged authorities to negotiate with state and private operators to expand the pass’s applicability. Industry experts argue that seamless coverage would promote uniformity and increase adoption.
However, NHAI officials maintain that integration requires detailed consultations. “It is not a technical barrier but an administrative and contractual one,” said Rajesh Kumar, a former highways advisor at the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Conclusion
The FASTag Annual Pass is a major step toward easing digital toll payments on India’s expanding highway network. Yet its limited scope highlights ongoing challenges in harmonising toll systems across jurisdictions. For now, motorists must carefully plan routes, maintain sufficient FASTag balances, and stay informed about where the pass applies.
