Affordable Toll Pass Announced for Vehicles Living Near Highway Plazas

In a move aimed at easing daily travel for local residents, the government has introduced a concessional local pass for eligible non-commercial vehicle owners living within 20 km of national highway toll plazas. The facility will start operating from November 1.

As per the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the yearly fee is Rs 1,500 for toll plazas outside municipal or local urban areas. For toll plazas located inside such areas, the yearly fee is Rs 3,000.

The initiative seeks to provide a cost-effective option to residents around toll plazas while making local movement smoother.

Vehicle owners who qualify, and who hold a valid and active FASTag, may opt for either the existing monthly pass or the concessional local pass when travelling through a given toll plaza.

The pass is valid exclusively for the toll plaza it is issued for and cannot be used at any other toll plaza.

The government clarified that the concessional local pass will not be offered on national highways or expressways where tolls are collected under a closed user-fee collection system. Nor will it be issued at sites where a service road or alternative road is available for passengers.

The annual local pass can be obtained at eligible toll plazas from November 1 and through the Rajmarg Yatra app.

The amendment has been notified under the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2026, using powers under the National Highways Act, 1956. Fee rates may be revised by the Centre each year.

Separately, the FASTag Annual Pass, introduced on August 15 last year, has recently crossed the significant milestone of one crore.

The ministry noted that the annual pass covers nearly 1,150 toll plazas on national highways and national expressways, so users no longer need to recharge FASTag repeatedly. The pass costs Rs 3,075 as a one-time payment and is valid for one year or 200 toll plaza crossings.