FASTag Update: One-Time Payment, Unlimited Highway Travel For A Year, Centre Mulls New Toll Policy

New Toll Policy: The Central government is working on a new toll policy that is likely to bring a one-time payment system for all travel across National Highways for a year. The purpose of the move is to ensure a hassle-free movement for vehicles without the need to recharge them every time while making travelling smooth across Indian highways, the Pune Pulse reported.

According to the proposed toll policy, the owners of the vehicles will have two options for payment of their tolls: Annual Pass, Distance-Based Pricing. 

In the Annual Pass method, a vehicle owner will have to recharge their FASTag with a one-time annual fee of Rs 3,000. With a one-time recharge, the vehicles will be able to travel unlimited kilometers for a year across national highways, state expressways, and expressways. 

The owners will not require any additional documents, and the existing FASTag account will serve the purpose. 

The government has also dropped a lifetime FASTag idea that earlier provisioned Rs 30,000 for 15 years.

ALSO READ: Toll Tax Hike Alert: NHAI Increases Toll Charges By 4-5% Across Country; Details

Those who don't find it worth investing annually would have an option to choose a flat rate of Rs 50 per 100 km, replacing the current toll plaza system.

Barrier-free toll collection

One of the important aspects of the proposed toll policy is the elimination of toll plazas on the highways and expressways. The toll policy mulls implementing sensor-based toll collection. 

How will contractors be compensated?

The one-time payment for unlimited travel is likely to affect the contractors of the existing projects, and hence, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will compensate them based on the digital record and a government-approved formula.

The new toll policy will also give additional powers to the banks to address toll evasion. They may invoke provisions like minimum balance and others.