Fastag annual pass expected to go live soon: What is it, and how is it different from the current recharge-based system

The government is considering a major overhaul of India’s toll collection framework by introducing annual and lifetime FASTag pass options. While a Satellite-based system is being considered to cut on the travel and toll cost, there a Fastag annual passes and lifetime passes that are being considered as well. These proposals aim to simplify highway travel by eliminating the need for frequent recharges and reducing congestion at toll booths. Here’s a breakdown of how the proposed changes differ from the current recharge-based FASTag system.

What is the FASTag annual pass?
As per the draft policy, a new annual FASTag pass may be introduced at Rs 3,000. This pass would allow unlimited travel across all national highways, expressways, and state expressways for an entire year, doing away with the need to recharge FASTag accounts for every trip.

What is the lifetime FASTag pass?
An earlier proposal also included a lifetime pass at Ea 30,000, offering 15 years of unlimited highway travel. However, this plan has now been scrapped in favour of the more affordable annual pass model. The focus has shifted toward offering a yearly plan that’s easier for vehicle owners to adopt without a large upfront cost.

What about occasional travellers?
The proposed framework also suggests a “pay-as-you-go” model, where users can pay Rs 50 per 100 km travelled. This would benefit those who don’t use highways frequently and find the annual pass unnecessary.