India Moves Toward Cash-Free Toll Collection on National Highways
India Goes Cashless at Toll Plazas: Digital Payments Only from April 10, 2026: In a bid to eliminate long queues and enhance the convenience of highway travel, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has announced that cash payments will be officially banned at all national highway toll booths starting April 10, 2026. From this date onward, only digital payment methods, such as FASTag or UPI, will be accepted for toll charges.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been transitioning towards digitalization over the years, with this move marking a major step in reducing congestion at toll plazas on busy routes like the Delhi-Meerut Expressway and Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
What If You Don’t Have a FASTag?
Vehicles without a valid FASTag will still be allowed to pass but will incur a surcharge of 25% on the regular toll rate. Payments can be made via UPI, but refusal to pay digitally will result in the vehicle being barred entry, and the owner could face a doubled fine if payment isn’t made within three days.
Changes for Government Officials
The practice of using government-issued identity cards to bypass toll payments has been scrapped. Now, only vehicles with an exempt FASTag or annual pass will receive toll exemptions.
FASTag Annual Pass Price Raised
The price of the FASTag Annual Pass, which provides unlimited toll-free travel up to 200 times a year, has been increased to Rs 3,075, effective April 1, 2026.
This shift to cashless toll payments is expected to reduce waiting times and improve overall efficiency on national highways, making highway travel smoother and faster. The government also plans to implement a “free-flow tolling” system in the near future, eliminating the need to stop at toll plazas altogether.
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