Starting 15th August, the Central Government is launching an Annual FASTag Pass Scheme, under which travelers can cross any expressway or access-controlled national highway in India by paying just ₹15 as toll tax per toll plaza.
This scheme works on a per toll plaza basis, meaning the toll fee is not based on the total distance traveled but only on the number of toll gates crossed.
A notification issued on 17th June by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways stated that entry
and exit toll plazas on these roads will be considered as one single toll point under this scheme.
Benefits and How It Works
A senior official from the ministry explained that currently, toll charges are collected at both entry and exit points of an expressway based on the journey slip.
But under the ₹3000 annual FASTag pass, a driver can cross up to 200 toll plazas in a year, paying only ₹15 per toll gate.
Usually, tolls are charged every 60 kilometers, but with this pass, the cost is significantly reduced.
Expressways Included and Practical Concerns
A spokesperson from NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) confirmed that as per the scheme, travelers will be charged only ₹15 on expressways
and access-controlled roads. However, they also admitted that applying this plan to long-distance travel might not be practical.
For instance, the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, which is 1386 km long, currently has a toll cost of ₹500–₹600.
The department is still discussing potential amendments to make the scheme more feasible.
Major Expressways (Ongoing)
Delhi–Mumbai Expressway – 1386 km
Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway – 659 km
Ghaziabad–Kanpur Expressway – 380 km
Faridabad–Jewar Expressway – 31 km
Agra–Bareilly Expressway – 228 km
Proposed Expressways
Gorakhpur–Shamli Expressway – 700 km
Raxaul–Haldia Expressway – 719 km
Aligarh–Palwal Expressway – 32 km
Patna–Purnia Expressway – 282 km
Varanasi–Kolkata Expressway – 710 km
