If everything goes as planned, traveling on highways in India will soon become more convenient and cost-effective.
The Government of India is considering introducing annual and lifetime toll passes to make highway travel smoother and more affordable for frequent users.
These passes aim to reduce congestion at toll plazas and provide a cheaper alternative to the current toll system.
How Will the Toll Pass Work?
According to reports, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is in the final stages of reviewing this proposal. Under the new system, highway users will have two options:
Annual Toll Pass – Costs ₹3,000 and allows unlimited travel on national highways and expressways for one year.
Lifetime Toll Pass – Costs ₹30,000 and is valid for 15 years, eliminating the need for repeated toll payments.
These passes will be linked to the existing FASTag system for easy and seamless implementation.
Integration with FASTag and Expected Benefits
Since the system will work through FASTag, no additional equipment or major changes will be required.
Currently, frequent travelers can only opt for a monthly toll pass, which costs ₹340 per month (₹4,080 per year) and is valid only at a specific toll plaza.
The new passes will remove these restrictions, allowing travelers to use all toll roads across the country without interruptions.
Private vehicles currently contribute 26% of total toll revenue and are a major reason for congestion at toll booths, especially during peak hours. The introduction of annual and lifetime toll passes is expected to:
Simplify toll collection
Reduce waiting time at toll plazas
Offer unlimited travel options for regular users
Provide financial relief to travelers
Additionally, the government is exploring ways to reduce toll charges per kilometer while launching the new toll pass system.
Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has confirmed that research on toll tax concerns is complete, and solutions will soon be implemented to address public complaints.
