Non-FASTag Users to Pay Double for Cash Payments, 1.25 Times of Regular Fee for UPI Payments
The Wire Staff
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New Delhi: Vehicles that do not have a valid FASTag will have to pay double the toll fee if they choose to pay in cash, while payments made through UPI will be charged 1.25 times the regular user fee, according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)’s amended National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.
In a statement on Saturday the ministry introduced the amendments to the rules that come into force on November 15 and said that the move aims to encourage digital payments at toll plazas and reduce cash usage.
“In a significant step to incentivise digital payments and eliminate cash transactions at the user fee plazas on National Highways for Non-FASTag users, the Government of India has amended National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008,” a statement by the ministry said on Saturday.
“Under the new rule, vehicles entering a fee plaza without a valid, functional FASTag will be charged twice the applicable user fee, if the fee payment is made in cash. Such users who opt to pay the fee via the Unified Payment Interface (UPI), will be charged only 1.25 times the applicable user fee for that category of the vehicle.”
The ministry said that if a vehicle is to pay a fee of Rs 100 through a valid FASTag, the same fee if paid in cash will be Rs 200 and Rs 125 if paid via UPI.
“This amendment aims to strengthen [the] fee collection process, enhance transparency in toll collection and promote ease of commuting for the National Highway users. This notification will come into effect from November 15, 2025,” the ministry said.
The ministry said that the move reflects the Union government’s “commitment to leveraging technology for efficient toll collection and reducing congestion at the toll plazas.”
“The revised rules will encourage the adoption of digital payments, enhance transparency in toll operations and improve the overall user experience on National Highways,” it said.
FASTag has been mandatory for payment of user fees at National Highway toll plazas since 2021 with a provision for a 100% penalty for cash or non-FASTag payments.
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