The Union government has announced the introduction of a FASTag-based annual pass system for private vehicle owners. While it will become effective across the country at national highways and national expressways on August 15, there are a lot of questions surrounding the annual pass facility for FASTag users. Here we are, answering all of them.
What is the FASTag annual pass?
The FASTag annual pass will allow free passage of private vehicles like cars, jeeps and vans at designated national highway and national expressway fee plazas for one year or 200 trips, whichever is earlier. The commuters will not have to pay per-trip user fee charges.
Where to purchase the FASTag annual pass?
The FASTag annual pass can be purchased from the Rajmargyatra mobile application and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) website.
How to activate the FASTag annual pass?
For activating the FASTag annual pass, the vehicle's eligibility and that of the associated FASTag will be verified. If the verification process is successful, the user will have to make a payment of Rs 3,000 through the Rajmargyatra mobile application or the NHAI website. The payment will be for the base year 2025-26. Following the payment confirmation, the annual pass will be activated on the registered FASTag.
Do I need to buy a new FASTag for the annual pass?
There will be no need for you to buy a new FASTag for the annual pass, as it will be activated on the existing one. However, the existing FASTag needs to meet the eligibility criteria, which includes properly affixing it on the vehicle's windshield, linking to a valid vehicle registration number and not being in a blacklisted state.
Which fee plazas are covered under the FASTag annual pass?
The FASTag annual pass will be valid only on the national highway and national expressway fee plazas. At fee plazas on expressways and highways, maintained by the state governments or local bodies, the annual pass will not be valid, and the FASTag will work like a regular FASTag. The commuters will have to pay the regular fee applicable.
How long is the FASTag annual pass valid?
The validity of the FASTag annual pass will be for one year from the date of activation or 200 trips, whichever comes first. After one year or 200 trips, it will automatically revert to a regular FASTag. Following that, you will have to reactivate it again by paying Rs 3,000 through the aforementioned method.
Exhausted the 200-trip limit in less than one year. What to do now?
You do not need to worry. You can purchase the annual pass again. In this case, it will again become valid for one year or 200 trips, whichever comes first.
What kind of vehicles are covered under the FASTag annual pass?
Only private vehicles like cars, jeeps and vans are covered under the FASTag annual pass. If someone tries to use it on a commercial vehicle, the FASTag will be deactivated without notice.
What does a single trip mean under the FASTag annual pass?
On open national highways and national expressways, crossing a fee plaza will be considered as one trip. You cross another fee plaza, and one more trip will be deducted from your quota of 200 trips. Also, a round trip (to and fro) will count as two trips.
In case you take a closed national highway or national expressway, a pair of entry and exit is counted as one trip.
Other important points to remember
- The annual pass will be non-transferable and valid only for the vehicle on which the FASTag will be affixed and registered.
- The annual pass will be activated only on FASTags properly affixed to the windshield of the registered vehicle.
- The annual pass will not be mandatory. You will be allowed to use your FASTag as a regular FASTag.
- The annual pass will not be issued on FASTags registered only with a chassis number. You will need to update the vehicle registration number.
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