New Delhi: Commuters without a functional FASTag will now be required to pay 1.25 times the applicable toll at National Highway plazas if they pay digitally via Unified Payment Interface (UPI), starting November 15, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) said on Saturday.

The move is part of the government’s effort to incentivise digital payments and eliminate cash transactions at National Highway toll plazas for non-FASTag users. The National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, have been amended to reflect the change.

Under the new rules, vehicles entering a toll plaza without a valid FASTag will be charged twice the standard toll if payment is made in cash. However, those paying via UPI will be charged only 1.25 times the applicable fee for their vehicle category.

For example, a vehicle with a standard FASTag toll of ₹100 will be charged ₹200 if paid in cash and ₹125 if paid via UPI.

“This amendment aims to strengthen toll collection, enhance transparency, and improve the commuting experience for National Highway users,” the ministry said, noting that the changes take effect from November 15 2025.

The revised rules also reflect the government’s commitment to using technology for efficient toll collection and reducing congestion at plazas, while encouraging the adoption of digital payments.

Earlier this year, on Independence Day, the government introduced a FASTag-based annual toll pass for private vehicles, priced at ₹3,000. The pass is available at toll plazas managed by MoRTH and the National Highways Authority of India for cars, jeeps, and vans.

The pass is valid for 200 toll trips or one year, whichever comes first, and automatically switches to standard pay-per-trip mode once the limit is reached. In closed or ticketed systems, a full journey from entry to exit counts as one trip, with a return journey counted as two.

The annual FASTag pass is available only to non-commercial, privately registered cars, jeeps, and vans.

IANS