- Effective from November 15, 2025, for Non-FASTag users.
- Cash payments attract double the fee; UPI payments attract 1.25x fee.
- Aims to encourage digital transactions and reduce cash handling.
- Enhances transparency and ease of commuting on highways.
- Part of the government’s effort to use technology for efficient toll operations.
Source: PIB
The Government of India has announced an amendment to the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, called the Third Amendment, 2025, to incentivize digital payments at toll plazas for vehicles without a FASTag. This new rule will take effect from November 15, 2025.
Under the revised rules:
- Vehicles without a valid, functional FASTag will be charged twice the normal user fee if paying by cash.
- If the same users pay via Unified Payments Interface (UPI), they will be charged only 1.25 times the applicable fee for their vehicle category.
Example:
- A vehicle paying ₹100 with a valid FASTag will pay ₹200 in cash if FASTag is not used.
- If the fee is paid via UPI, the charge will be ₹125.
The amendment is designed to:
- Promote digital payments at toll plazas.
- Improve transparency in toll collection.
- Enhance ease of commuting for National Highway users.
The new rules reflect the government’s continued push toward technology-driven infrastructure management and its broader Digital India initiative. By creating a financial incentive for UPI payments while maintaining a penalty for cash transactions, authorities hope to minimize queues and streamline traffic flow on National Highways.
The amendment comes as part of ongoing efforts to modernize India’s highway infrastructure and payment systems, making travel more efficient for millions of daily commuters.
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