The introduction of the FASTag Annual Pass by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on August 15, 2025, aimed to streamline toll payments for private vehicle owners on specific national highways and expressways. With a one-time payment of ₹3,000, users can either enjoy 200 toll-free trips within a year or unlimited travel for the same period. The scheme’s popularity was evident, with over five lakh subscriptions in the first half-week. However, before subscribing, it’s crucial to recognize that the annual pass is not valid on all roads. Specifically, it excludes highways and expressways managed by state authorities. In these cases, travelers must continue using their standard FASTag account, potentially requiring frequent commuters to manage two active accounts.
The FASTag Annual Pass is restricted to NHAI and centrally-managed toll plazas. It cannot be used on state-managed expressways or local roads. Here’s a list of excluded highways and expressways:
* Bundelkhand Expressway (Uttar Pradesh)
* Agra–Lucknow Expressway (Uttar Pradesh)
* Yamuna Expressway (Uttar Pradesh)
* Mumbai–Pune Expressway – operated by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC)
* Atal Setu (Goa) – bridge managed under a state toll system
* Samruddhi Mahamarg (Maharashtra) – state highway not covered under the scheme
NHAI clarifies that the annual pass is intended only for highways and expressways under its central authority. Tolls administered by state bodies are not covered.
The annual pass is designed exclusively for private, non-commercial vehicles. Commercial fleets, taxis, vehicles with yellow plates, and those registered by chassis number are not eligible. Additionally, parking fees are excluded. Even with the NHAI annual pass, toll charges on these excluded routes will be deducted from the standard FASTag account.
To obtain the annual pass, users can apply via the official NHAI portal or the Rajmarg Yatra App. They must provide their Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) and FASTag ID for verification and then make a one-time payment of ₹3,000 through various available payment methods.