People who regularly cross toll plazas near their homes may soon get a major benefit.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is preparing to introduce digital monthly and annual toll passes for residents living within 20 kilometres of a toll plaza.
The proposed system aims to make daily travel easier while supporting India’s move toward a fully automated, barrier-free toll collection system.
If approved, the new digital passes could be launched as early as next month.
Who Will Be Eligible for the New Toll Pass?
According to the proposal, residents living within a 20-km radius of a toll plaza will be eligible to apply for these digital passes.
Eligibility will be verified through Aadhaar and address records. Once approved, the pass will be linked directly to the vehicle’s FASTag account.
This means commuters will no longer need physical passes or manual verification at toll booths.
How Will the Digital Pass Work?
The entire process is expected to be online and hassle-free.
After verification, the digital pass will be connected to the user’s FASTag account and made available through the Rajmarg portal.
With an active pass, eligible commuters will be able to cross their designated toll plaza multiple times without repeated toll deductions.
The government is still finalizing the pricing for the monthly and annual passes.
Why Is the Government Introducing This System?
The move is part of India’s larger plan to implement Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling across national highways.
Under this system, vehicles can pass through toll plazas without stopping.
Toll charges are collected automatically using FASTag technology and vehicle number plate recognition systems.
Officials have observed that many toll payment issues involve local residents who cross nearby toll plazas frequently.
Since manual exemptions will not be possible in a fully automated system, a dedicated digital pass has become necessary.
Existing Local Pass Rules May Soon Change
Currently, non-commercial vehicle owners living near toll plazas can get a local monthly pass by paying ₹350.
However, the process often requires physical document verification at the toll plaza.
The new digital system is expected to simplify the process significantly.
Officials have also indicated that the pricing could be lower than the existing local pass, although a final decision has not yet been announced.
Part of India’s Barrier-Free Toll Collection Plan
The digital pass initiative is closely linked to the nationwide rollout of MLFF tolling technology.
Under this advanced system:
FASTag RFID readers automatically identify vehicles.
ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras capture vehicle details.
Toll charges are deducted automatically.
Violators may receive electronic notices and penalties.
The goal is to reduce congestion, shorten waiting times, and improve efficiency on highways.
What Does This Mean for Daily Travelers?
For people who cross nearby toll plazas every day for work, education, business, or other routine activities, the new system could offer both convenience and savings.
Benefits may include:
Faster travel with no waiting at toll booths
No need for physical toll passes
Unlimited crossings through the designated toll plaza
Reduced paperwork and verification hassles
Potential savings on toll expenses
The government believes the move will also reduce disputes at toll plazas and make the transition to automated tolling smoother.
A Major Change for Highway Users
If implemented as planned, the digital monthly and annual toll pass system could become one of the biggest changes for local commuters in recent years.
By combining FASTag, Aadhaar verification, and automated toll collection, the government aims to make highway travel faster, simpler, and more commuter-friendly.
For thousands of people who cross the same toll plaza every day, this could be a welcome relief.
