FASTag annual pass price to go up from 1 April: Check NHAI's new fees and benefits

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) announced earlier this month that it would be hiking FASTag prices, and the deadline is about to take effect in a few days. The new prices kick in from 1 April, leaving frequent travellers just a few days to get their subscriptions at the existing prices.

What are the new FASTag charges?

Under the revised fee structure, the cost of the FASTag annual pass will increase by ₹75, bringing the total from the current ₹3,000 to ₹3,075 from the start of the new financial year.

The new rate applies specifically to non-commercial vehicles that are equipped with a valid FASTag.

The pass can be used at approximately 1,150 fee plazas on National Highways and National Expressways nationwide.

What is a FASTag annual pass? What are its benefits?

The FASTag annual pass was launched in August last year and is aimed at eliminating the need to frequently recharge FASTag for frequent travellers. The scheme offers a prepaid, one-time payment option for private, non-commercial vehicles such as cars, jeeps, or vans.

After the annual pass recharge, travellers can enjoy cashless travel at NHAI toll plazas for 1 year or 200 trips, whichever comes first.

The annual pass is especially useful for people who travel from city to city, such as those travelling within NCR, and individuals who frequently make trips to their hometowns.

NHAI says the pass has seen widespread adoption since its launch and has already amassed a user base of over 56 lakh people.

How to recharge FASTag annual pass?

The FASTag annual pass recharge can be done via the Rajmarg Yatra App or the official NHAI website. Once the one-time fee is paid, the annual pass gets activated on the vehicle's existing FASTag within two hours.

With the new fee structure set to come into effect from 1 April, frequent commuters have just a couple of days left to make the recharge at the old price.

What is FASTag?

FASTag is a mandatory electronic toll collection system that uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to let users automatically pay toll charges without stopping at toll plazas. A FASTag sticker with an RFID chip is stuck on the vehicle's windshield, which is then scanned at the toll plaza to automatically deduct toll charges.

The RFID sticker is linked to the user's bank account or wallet, and once the toll charges are deducted, they receive a message for each transaction.