New Delhi, 27 October (H.S.): Private vehicle owners residing within a 20-kilometre radius of toll plazas on National Highways will be able to opt for discounted annual local FASTag passes from November 1. Depending on the location of the toll plaza, eligible motorists will have to pay Rs. 1,500 or Rs. 3,000 annually for the pass.

At present, local residents can avail themselves of monthly passes costing Rs. 360, amounting to Rs. 4,320 over a year. Under the new arrangement, eligible vehicle owners will have the option of continuing with their existing monthly passes or switching to the discounted annual local pass.

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a notification on October 26, amending the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. According to Notification No. G.S.R. 917(E), issued under Section 9 of the National Highways Act, 1956, the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2026, will come into effect on November 1.

Under the revised provisions, the annual local pass will cost Rs. 1,500 at toll plazas located outside municipal or local urban area limits. At toll plazas situated within municipal or local urban area limits, the annual fee will be Rs. 3,000.

The revised rates could translate into annual savings of Rs. 2,820 for those opting for the Rs. 1,500 pass and Rs. 1,320 for those choosing the Rs. 3,000 pass, compared with the existing annual expenditure of Rs. 4,320 on monthly passes. These savings are calculated on the assumption that the monthly pass is retained for all 12 months.

According to the rules, the facility will be available to individuals who own vehicles registered for non-commercial use, have a valid and active FASTag and reside within 20 kilometres of the concerned toll plaza. Eligible vehicle owners will be able to choose either the existing monthly pass or the new discounted annual local pass under the applicable provisions.

The annual local pass will be valid only at the specific toll plaza for which it has been issued and cannot be used at any other toll plaza.

However, the facility will not be available at every toll plaza. Discounted local passes will not be issued on National Highways or expressways where toll collection operates under a closed user fee system. The facility will also be unavailable if a service road or an alternative route is available for use by the driver, owner or person in charge of the vehicle concerned.

Local residents are already entitled to monthly passes under the existing system. In August 2026, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) expanded the digital local FASTag pass facility through the Rajmargyatra mobile application to 121 toll plazas.

Under this arrangement, eligible vehicle owners can obtain monthly passes by verifying that their residence is within 20 kilometres of the relevant toll plaza. The proposed annual pass will provide another option for eligible local motorists, potentially reducing their yearly toll expenditure.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar