Latest news with #FASTag
News18
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- News18
FASTag: Can Annual Travel Pass Help You Save Money? Minimum & Maximum Recharges Explained
Last Updated: The National Highways Authority of India will start issuing the pass from August 15 for Rs 3,000. Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday introduced a FASTag-based annual pass, effective from August 15. The Annual Toll Pass (ATP) will cost Rs 3,000, down from the earlier Rs 10,000, and will be valid for one year from the date of activation or up to 200 visits, whichever comes first. The policy intends to simplify toll payments, alleviate congestion, and reduce friction at toll booths across the country. What is the Validity? The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will start issuing the pass from August 15 for Rs 3,000. It will be valid for one year from the purchase date or 200 travels at National Highway and Expressway fee plazas. Once the trip limit has been surpassed, you can renew an ATP for a year. Alternatively, you can also use the FASTag, as purchasing an ATP is not mandatory to drive on the NHAI network. Those who want to continue utilising FASTag can do so. As per the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), this scheme falls under the National Highways Fee (Amendment) Rules, 2025. Who Can Use the Annual Pass? It is designed specifically for non-commercial private vehicles, including cars, jeeps and vans. To be qualified for the facility, the vehicle must have a valid registration and a functional FASTag. This pass does not cover commercial vehicles such as trucks, buses, or taxis. The annual toll pass can be activated and renewed using a dedicated link that the government will soon make accessible on the Rajmarg Yatra App as well as the MoRTH and NHAI official websites. To complete the activation process, users must enter their vehicle details as well as their FASTag ID. Can An Annual Travel Pass Help You Save Money? According to the ministry, regular users can save up to Rs 7,000 per year, as the average toll payment will be reduced from Rs 50 to Rs 15 per trip. 'By reducing wait times, easing congestion, and minimising disputes at toll plazas, the Annual Pass aims to deliver a faster and smoother travel experience for millions of private vehicle owners," the minister said. Here's How Much You Can Save With the ATP: Delhi to Mumbai From Delhi to Mumbai, there are approximately 12 to 15 toll plazas, including Kherki Daula, Kishangarh, Ahmedabad Ring Road, Surat, Vapi, and Dahisar. On closed-tolling highways, such as the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, a vehicle is only charged at the entry and exit points, indicating that it is a single trip. So, if the one-way toll charge is around Rs 1,900, the round-trip will be Rs 3,800. However, if you choose the new FASTag yearly plan, you pay only Rs 3,000 per year and get unlimited travel till you finish 200 trips. Delhi to Jaipur Between Delhi and Jaipur, there are four tolls — Ghamroj, Hilalpur, Bhandarraj and Rajadhok. And if you go twice a month, the monthly expenses are around Rs 1,288, bringing the total annual cost to Rs 15, 456. But with ATP, you only need to pay Rs 3,000 for a year of unlimited travel on this route and can save more than Rs 12,000.
NDTV
11 hours ago
- NDTV
How New Rs 3,000 FASTag Annual Pass Will Help You Save More
New Delhi: If you are a frequent traveller or love your road trips, you're in for big savings on toll charges with the introduction of the annual FASTag. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday announced the new plan for private vehicles. The annual pass will be effective from August 15 and cost Rs 3,000, as compared to the earlier Rs 10,000. The plan is designed specifically for non-commercial vehicles, including cars, jeeps and vans, and is valid for either 200 journeys or for one year from the date of activation, whichever is earlier. According to the ministry, the cost per trip under the scheme will be reduced to Rs 15 from Rs 50. This way, people who travel regularly can save up to Rs 7,000 annually. Here's how much you can save with the new FASTag annual plans. 1. Delhi to Chandigarh route Travelling from Delhi to Chandigarh, a private vehicle is charged toll at Murthal, Panipat, Gharaunda and Ambala. If the one-way toll is around Rs 405, the round trip costs approximately Rs 810. If you are travelling twice a month, the monthly charges will be approximately Rs 1,620, and the annual cost adds up to Rs 19,440. With the new FASTag annual plan, you just have to pay Rs 3,000 for a year for unlimited travel on this route and save over Rs 16,000. 2. Delhi to Jaipur There are four tolls -- Ghamroj, Hilalpur, Bhandarraj and Rajadhok -- between Delhi and Jaipur. The one-way toll tax is around Rs 322, so the round trip costs approximately Rs 644. And if you're travelling twice a month, the monthly charges are approximately Rs 1,288, making the annual cost Rs 15,456. With the FASTag annual plan, you pay just Rs 3,000 for a year of unlimited travel on this route and can save over Rs 12,000. 3. Delhi to Mumbai Delhi to Mumbai has around 12 to 15 toll plazas, including Kherki Daula, Kishangarh, Ahmedabad Ring Road, Surat, Vapi and Dahisar. But officials said that in closed tolling highways, such as the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, a vehicle is charged exclusively at entry and exit points, marking it as a single trip. So if the one-way toll tax is approximately Rs 1,900, the round trip will cost Rs 3,800. If you are travelling even once a month, it adds up to Rs 7,600. But if you opt for the new FASTag annual plan, you pay just Rs 3,000 for a year and enjoy unlimited travel until you complete 200 trips.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Govt announces FASTag Annual Pass: Know how much you end up saving with yearly subscription
Union Minister for Roads, Transportation and Highways Nitin Gadkari has announced FASTag Annual Pass for Rs 3,000, which will be valid for 200 inter-city trips or 12 months of validity, whichever comes first. Watch as we decode how many rupees you stand to save with an annual FASTag subscription Show more Show less
Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: What is RFID technology in FASTag? Key concept for your UPSC exam
Take a look at the essential concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget for today. (Relevance: FASTag is an important milestone in the move towards Digital India. Knowing about the technology deployed in FASTag is important as per the current trends of the UPSC questions. Also, the development of indigenous navigation satellites has been in the news for quite some time. Previously, UPSC has asked Prelims and Mains questions on IRNSS. ) Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday (18th June) announced a FASTag-based annual pass priced at Rs 3,000 for 'hassle-free-highway travel'. He said the new system, exclusively for non-commercial private vehicles such as cars, jeeps, and vans, will address the 'long-standing concerns' regarding toll plazas. It will go into effect from August 15 and be valid for one year or 200 trips, whichever comes earlier. 1. FASTag is an electronic toll collection system managed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). FASTag sticker is usually pasted on the windscreen of a car. It was launched in 2014 as a pilot project and made mandatory at every toll plaza in the country in 2021. 2. It uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to communicate with scanners installed at toll plazas. Once the car crosses a toll plaza, the requisite toll amount is automatically deducted from a bank account or a prepaid wallet linked to the FASTag. 3. RFID is a wireless tracking system that consists of tags and readers. Radio waves are used to communicate information/identity of objects or people to nearby readers – devices that can be hand-held or built into fixed positions like poles or buildings. The tags can carry encrypted information, serial numbers and short descriptions. There are also high-memory tags like the ones designed for use in the aviation industry. 4. There are different types of RFID tags: Passive tags, semi-passive tags, and active tags. Active RFIDs use their own power source, mostly batteries. Active tags can ping information every few seconds like beacons, or they can get activated when a reader is in the proximity. 5. Passive RFIDs, on the other hand, are activated through the reader using the electromagnetic energy it transmits. This is enough power for the tag to transmit information back to the reader. Active tags have a longer read range, around 300 ft, compared to passive tags. FASTag uses passive RFID tags. Semi-passive tags comprise an internal circuit with a power source, but rely on the radio waves received from the reader to transmit the response. 6. RFID tags use an integrated circuit and an antenna to communicate with a reader using radio waves at several different frequencies – low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and ultra-high frequency (UHF). The message sent back by the tag in the form of radio waves is translated into data and analysed by the host computer system. ➥ The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will soon implement the barrier-free movement of vehicles through toll plazas and reduce travel time 'ANPR-FASTag-based Barrier-Less Tolling System' at selected toll plazas. ➥ This tolling system will combine 'Automatic Number Plate Recognition' (ANPR) technology with the existing 'FASTag' system for toll deduction. Under this, vehicles will be charged based on their identification using high-performance ANPR cameras and FASTag readers. The vehicles don't need to stop at toll plaza for this. ➥ In March, the Union Minister of Transport informed the Rajya Sabha that the government has deferred the proposed adoption of an ambitious Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) for toll account of privacy concerns. ➥ Under the GNSS, the toll collection system works with the help of satellites and on-board unit (OBU) fitted in vehicles, and the toll is calculated based on the distance traveled. ➥ Sources said that the GNSS has been put on hold as a decision was taken that it will be rolled out only when India has its own complete satellite system as there are serious privacy concerns regarding individuals and vehicle data. 1. NavIC, or Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), is an independent, stand-alone navigation satellite system developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It consists of a seven-satellite constellation serving both defence and civilian needs. According to the website of ISRO, the three satellites of the constellation are placed in geostationary orbit, and four satellites are placed in inclined geosynchronous orbit 2. The idea for an indigenous GNSS was conceived in 1999 following the war in Kargil, during which India's military could not use the American Global Positioning System (GPS) in the conflict zone. In this regard, the first satellite, IRNSS 1A, was launched on July 1, 2013. 3. Following the launch of IRNSS-1G, the seventh in the series on April 28, 2016, ISRO had said that 'the successful launch… [of the satellite] signifies the completion of the IRNSS constellation'. However, mid-2016 onward, there were reports of failures of the rubidium atomic clocks used in several navigation satellites. Only five of the 11 satellites launched in the Rs 2,250 crore NavIC program – including replacements for failed satellites – are fully operational, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has said. 4. The NavIC satellites provide two types of services – Standard Positioning Service which is for general and commercial use, and Restricted Service which is meant for the defence forces – over the Indian landmass and neighbouring regions. 5. A primary reason to develop an indigenous satellite navigation system like the IRNSS despite the existence of global systems such as the GPS (US), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (Europe), Beidou (China), and QZSS (Japan), is the reliability that it offers in defence use. With reference to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2018) 1. IRNSS has three satellites in geostationary and four satellites in geosynchronous orbits. 2. IRNSS covers entire India and about 5500 sq. Km beyond its borders. 3. India will have its own satellite navigation system with full global coverage by the middle of 2019. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) None (Source: Explained: What are RFID tags that will be used to track Amarnath pilgrims?, FASTag Annual Pass scheme, which aims to provide 'hassle-free highway travel' at Rs 3,000, Story of NavIC: crucial indigenous SatNav system, a few hurdles in development path) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for May 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Khushboo Kumari is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She has done her graduation and post-graduation in History from the University of Delhi. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. She holds experience in UPSC-related content development. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
FASTag annual pass: How to activate it in your existing FASTag account? Check how to purchase, validity and more
What is the FASTag Annual Pass? How to activate the annual pass in your existing FASTag account? Where can I purchase the FASTag Annual Pass? How will the annual pass be activated? For how long is the FASTag annual pass valid? What counts as a single trip under the FASTag Annual Pass? Will I receive SMS notifications related to my Annual Pass? The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways is introducing a FASTag annual pass costing Rs 3,000 valid for one year or 200 trips (whichever comes earlier) for private vehicles. The FASTag annual pass is being introduced to make highway travel easier and more affordable for individuals. This new scheme will be effective from August 15, to Nitin Gadkari's social media post on X, 'A dedicated link for activation and renewal will soon be made available on the Rajmargyatra App as well as on the official websites of NHAI and MoRTH.'NHAI stands for National Highways Authority of India and MoRTH stands for Ministry of Road Transport and read: FASTag annual pass: You will pay 70% less toll on Rs 3000 annual pass vs normal toll: Nitin Gadkari explains FASTag annual pass is aimed at providing significant savings for regular commuters by replacing multiple toll payments with a single, affordable yearly fee. It's expected to specially benefit those who frequently travel short distances on national highways. In addition to cost savings, the pass is expected to reduce waiting time at toll plazas, ensuring smoother travel during peak hours and holiday seasons for private vehicle Pass activated on the FASTag allows free passage of private car/jeep/van at designated National Highway (NH) and National Expressway (NE) fee plazas for one year or 200 trips (whichever is earlier), without per-trip user fee charges. The Annual Pass will be available from 15th August annual pass can be activated on your existing FASTAg, provided it meets the eligibility criteria (i.e. it is properly affixed on the vehicle's windshield, linked to a valid registration number which is not a blacklisted FASTag Annual Pass is available only on the Rajmarg yatra mobile application and NHAI website The Annual Pass will be activated after verifying the eligibility of the vehicle and the associated FASTag. Upon successful verification, the user must make a payment of Rs 3,000 for the base year 2025–26 through the Rajmarg yatra mobile application or NHAI website. Once the payment is confirmed, the annual pass will be activated on the registered Annual Pass is valid for one year from the date of activation or 200 transactions (trips), whichever comes first. Once the FASTag Annual Pass completes either 200 trips or one year from the date of activation, it will automatically revert to a regular FASTag. To continue using the Annual Pass benefits, the user will need to re-activate the Annual Pass to get 200 trips / 1 year point-based fee plazas: Each crossing of a fee plaza counts as one trip. A round trip (to and fro) counts as two Closed Tolling fee plazas: One pair of entry and exit counts as one By activating the Annual Pass, you consent to allow Rajmargyatra to retrieve your registered mobile number from the issuing bank for the purpose of sending SMS alerts and other modes of communication.
