Nitin Gadkari Unveils ₹3,000 Annual FASTag Pass for Private Vehicles, Effective from August 15, 2025
New Delhi: In a major relief for private vehicle owners, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has announced a new FASTag-based annual pass aimed at simplifying toll payments and reducing congestion on national highways. The pass, priced at ₹3,000, will be effective from August 15, 2025, and is exclusively designed for non-commercial vehicles such as cars, jeeps, and vans.
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Gadkari described the initiative as a 'historic move' that will enhance travel efficiency for millions of private vehicle users across India. The annual pass will be valid for one year or up to 200 highway trips, whichever comes first from the date of activation. For a one-time fee of ₹3,000, users will be able to travel across national highways with seamless toll access, without needing to make payments at each toll plaza.
Important Announcement 📢
🔹In a transformative step towards hassle-free highway travel, we are introducing a FASTag-based Annual Pass priced at ₹3,000, effective from 15th August 2025. Valid for one year from the date of activation or up to 200 trips—whichever comes… — Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) June 18, 2025
To ensure the process is user-friendly and easily accessible, the government will soon introduce a dedicated digital link for activating and renewing the annual pass. This link will be made available on the Highway Travel App and on the official websites of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
One of the key aims of this initiative is to resolve a long-standing issue related to toll plazas located within a 60-kilometre radius, which has been a source of inconvenience and frequent disputes. By introducing this prepaid pass, the government hopes to reduce waiting times, ease traffic congestion, and eliminate conflicts at toll booths—offering a smoother and more predictable travel experience for private vehicle drivers.
With India's national highway network rapidly expanding, this FASTag annual pass marks another step toward the government's broader goal of modernizing road infrastructure and creating a more efficient, digital tolling system. The move has been widely welcomed by frequent commuters and travel associations, who see it as a practical, time-saving solution for everyday highway users.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Elon Musk launches Tesla robotaxi in Austin: Here's how rides are priced
Tesla's long-hyped robotaxi was launched on Sunday afternoon, as per CEO Elon Musk who announced the rollout on his platform X (formerly Twitter). The first rides, priced at a flat $4.20 are now being offered in parts of Austin using driverless Tesla Model Y vehicles, stated a Reuters report. Several Tesla robotaxis were spotted Sunday morning navigating South Congress, a bustling neighborhood in the Texas capital, with no driver behind the wheel. A vehicle Tesla is using for robotaxi testing purposes on Oltorf Street in Austin(Bloomberg) Several social media users posted videos of robotaxis and noted that a single person was seated in the passenger seat, acting as a 'safety monitor'. The electric vehicle maker has not issued an official statement or provided details on the scope of the Tesla robotaxi launch, but a small group of influencers were invited to participate in a closely monitored pilot featuring 10-20 vehicles operating within a geofenced zone of Austin. Also read: Indian CEO slams Tesla for returning $1,000 fee: 'Elon Musk, do you know...' Texas lawmakers move to regulate autonomous vehicles The launch came days after Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a new legislation requiring autonomous vehicle operators to obtain a state permit. Though the law does not go into effect until September 1, it signals a shift from Texas' previously hands-off approach to autonomous driving regulation. The law mandated operators like Tesla to attest to the safety of their AVs, provide emergency protocols for police and first responders, and comply with Level 4 autonomy standards, which means vehicles can drive themselves within specific conditions sans human intervention. Tesla deviating from norms by not relying on lidar/radar The Reuters report stated that Tesla was bucking industry norms by relying exclusively on cameras, without lidar or radar. Additionally, Musk has long argued that relying on cameras make Tesla's system both safer and more scalable, though critics have cited safety risks and past delays as cause for concern. Musk has spoken about self-driving cars over the years and now he is promising that safety will be a top priority as they roll out Tesla robotaxis in Austin. These cars will steer clear of bad weather, tricky intersections, and underage riders, and will only drive in areas where they are certain everything is safe, Musk said. The launch of Tesla's robotaxi is a big step for the company's future plans. Analysts think a lot of Tesla's long-term worth is dependent on how well they can commercialize their robotaxis and AI technologies, like humanoid robots. However, it is not all smooth sailing. Tesla's rival Cruise, owned by GM, recently had to suspend its operations following an accident, and both Waymo (Alphabet) and Zoox (Amazon) are operating under heavy regulatory watch. Tesla's unique approach, relying purely on cameras, sets it apart from the competition, but it also brings its own set of safety and liability issues. FAQs Q: Is Tesla launching robotaxis in Austin today? Yes, Elon Musk announced that Tesla has begun offering limited robotaxi rides in Austin as of Sunday afternoon. Q: How much do Tesla robotaxi rides cost? Tesla is offering the initial rides at a flat rate of $4.20. Q: Are the Tesla robotaxis fully driverless? Yes, the vehicles operate without a driver but currently have a front-seat 'safety monitor' during this pilot phase. Q: What level of autonomy do these vehicles have? Tesla's robotaxis are classified as Level 4 autonomous, meaning they can drive themselves under specific conditions without human input.
The Print
3 hours ago
- The Print
Delhi businesses will no longer need police licence for running operations
Businesses will now be exempted from having to obtain a 'no-objection' certificate from police. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the reform is a direct reflection of the government's 'visionary approach' and in line with the Centre's Maximum Governance-Minimum Government' and Ease of Doing Business policy. New Delhi, Jun 22 (PTI) Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has relieved Delhi Police from the responsibility for issuing licences for business activities such as hotels, motels, guest houses, according to an official order. The exemption encompasses entities such as hotels, motels, guest houses, restaurants (eating houses), swimming pools, auditoriums, video game parlours, discotheques, and amusement parks. The licensing power will now be transferred to local bodies such as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, New Delhi Municipal Council, or Delhi Cantonment Board. Gupta said Union Home Minister Amit Shah has categorically said that police force should be relieved from non-core duties so that their energy and resources can be focused on law and order, security, and crime control. The subject of policing in the national capital lies under the Union Home Ministry. 'We want to make Delhi not only the political capital of India but also a model of good governance. That is the mission of our double-engine government,' Gupta said. PTI SLB VN VN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Domestically made solar panels cost doubles, raises project cost
Jaipur: Farmers installing solar plants to irrigate their land feel cheated as the increasing prices of domestically made panels nullify the subsidy provided by the central and state govts. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Prices of solar panels made in the country currently command Rs 28 a watt compared to about Rs 14 for the assembled panels, which are made of imported solar cells. With the rising cost, the impact of the 60% subsidy provided by the Union and the state govt (30% each) reduces the benefits by up to 50%. As a result, farmers said that a 5-kW plant, which required about Rs 2.7 lakh investment, will now need Rs 4 lakh. These projects are mandated to use Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) panels to be eligible for the subsidies. Disappointed with the higher panel rates, a farmer in a social media post even accused the govt of corruption as the benefits promised under the subsidy scheme are not available to him. The shortage of DCR panels has been jacking up prices in India for a long time, forcing vendors to delay project implementation. They accuse the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) of rolling out schemes with mandatory use of DCR panels without having an adequate supply. "It is benefitting a few manufacturers who are into the production of DCR modules. If the country does not have enough capacity, then the stipulation should be removed for the smooth implementation of the projects," said a vendor preferring anonymity. In DCR modules, solar cells need to be manufactured in India. But the country currently does not have enough cell production capacity. The majority of panel manufacturing volume is made of imported solar cells. The govt has made the DCR mandatory for certain projects, including Kusum and PM Surya Ghar Yojana. Delay in availability risks pushing deadlines further for achieving targets set by MNRE.
