Complete Guide to FASTag Annual Pass:
Today, India is celebrating its 79th Independence Day on August 15. On this occasion, the FASTag Annual Pass is being rolled out nationwide to ease travel on expressways and highways. Official bookings are being conducted via the highway travel app. This annual pass allows for toll-free travel on selected roads for just 3,000 rupees a year. With a 200 trip limit per year, many questions arise in people's minds. Today, we bring you answers to 10 important questions related to this.
According to the ministry, users must spend 3,000 rupees for the FASTag Annual Pass. This pass is only valid for one year or 200 trips, whichever comes first. Once either the term completes or the user makes 200 trips, the pass will be deactivated.
The annual pass for FASTag cannot be used on every road. The ministry states that this pass is only applicable on national highways (NH) and national expressways (NE). It will not work on expressways, state highways (SH), toll plazas, or parking areas managed by state governments or local bodies. In those cases, the FASTag will work as usual, and where necessary, money will be deducted from the FASTag. Keep your FASTag recharged to avoid inconvenience.
The government claims that the FASTag Annual Pass will only be issued to non-commercial vehicles in the private car, jeep, or van categories after verification through the VAHAN database. This program excludes commercial vehicles like taxis, trucks, mini-trucks, or buses. Hence, only private vehicle owners can benefit from this pass. If the FASTag is caught being used on another vehicle, it will be deactivated.
The FASTag Annual Pass can only be purchased or activated online through the official NHAI website or the highway travel app (Rajmargayatra). The ministry specifies not to buy the annual pass through any other websites or apps, as it could be fraudulent.
Once vehicle eligibility and the associated FASTag are confirmed, the annual pass will be activated. Users need to visit the NHAI website or the highway travel app, where they'll find a link. On the app, it can be activated in just 3 easy steps. Click on the "Annual Toll Pass" tab, press the activation button, enter your vehicle registration number, receive an OTP on your registered mobile number, enter it, and complete the payment process. After payment, the pass activation will start. Typically, the annual pass is activated on the FASTag within 2 hours.
No, you do not need to purchase a new FASTag to activate the annual pass. The annual pass will be activated on your existing FASTag, as long as it meets eligibility criteria—such as being correctly placed on the vehicle's windshield, linked to a valid vehicle registration number, and not being blacklisted. Validate these points before activating the annual pass.
No, the annual pass cannot be transferred in any condition. It will only be valid for the vehicle with the registered FASTag. Using it on any other vehicle will result in automatic deactivation. The FASTag must be affixed on the windshield of the vehicle it is registered to for accurate activation.
Source: aajtak
Absolutely not, the government mandates updating your vehicle registration number (VRN) on your FASTag for annual pass activation. This pass won't activate on FASTags registered only with a chassis number. Users can update their vehicle details by visiting the official transport department website (Parivahan.gov.in).
According to the ministry, crossing a point-based toll plaza in any manner counts as a single trip. Round trips (going and returning) count as 2 trips, while entry and exit at closed toll plazas count as a single trip each. Keep this in mind while traveling.
No, to buy the annual pass, you must pay the full 3,000 rupees via the highway travel mobile app or the official NHAI website. Only after this payment will the pass be activated. Your FASTag wallet or balance can't be used for pass purchases. The remaining balance on your FASTag is utilized normally on roads not covered by this pass.
Once the FASTag Annual Pass is activated, a message will be sent to your registered mobile number for confirmation. The highway travel mobile app will also notify you, for which you need to enable notification alerts. The annual pass is entirely optional; it's up to you whether or not to activate it. It's not mandatory for everyone. It works like an add-on facility.
