Toll payment Rule Change from 15th Nov
FASTag New Rule: Starting November 15, 2025, a new rule will be implemented at toll plazas, directly impacting your pocketbook. Now, if your vehicle doesn’t have a FASTag or the tag fails, you could face a fine. However, the government has announced a significant exemption for those making digital payments.
The central government has amended the National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, and implemented a new rule. Under this rule, drivers entering a toll plaza without a valid FASTag and paying with cash will be charged double the toll fee. However, if the same driver pays using UPI or a digital medium, they will only have to pay 1.25 times the toll fee. Consequently, drivers will now pay less with digital payments than with cash.
Let’s understand this with an example:
- Suppose your vehicle’s toll is ₹100.
- If your FASTag is working, it will only be ₹100.
- If your FASTag fails and you pay with cash, you’ll have to pay ₹200.
- If your FASTag fails and you pay with UPI, you’ll have to pay ₹125.
This means that digital payment providers will now receive direct relief, while cash transactions will incur additional costs.
Why did the government make this change: According to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the purpose of this amendment is to make the toll collection system transparent, reduce cash transactions, and promote digital payments. The ministry states that this move will not only reduce long queues at toll plazas but also provide a faster and smoother travel experience for travelers.
