Toll Tax New Rule: Cash Payments Completely Banned at Toll Plazas; These Major Changes Take Effect Starting Today..

FASTag New Rule: Starting today—April 10—several significant changes have come into effect for highway commuters across the country. From this Friday onwards, you will have to pay a higher amount if your vehicle is not equipped with a FASTag. Making payments at toll plazas without a FASTag will now prove to be more expensive. The Central Government has decided to implement a new rule in this regard, which has become effective nationwide as of April 10, 2026. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, if a vehicle driver makes a payment at a toll plaza without a FASTag or an electronic toll collection system, they will be required to pay an amount that is 25 percent higher than the prescribed fee. Additionally, starting today, cash payments have been completely discontinued at toll plazas. In light of this, here is how you can make payments for the applicable charges.

No FASTag? Here is How Much You Will Have to Pay
If a vehicle does not have a FASTag, or if the existing FASTag is not activated, the driver will be provided with the facility to make the payment via UPI; however, in such a scenario, the driver will be required to pay an additional toll amount. When paying via UPI, one must pay 25% more than the standard toll fee. Consequently, if the standard toll fee is ₹100, the driver will have to pay ₹125 when making the payment via UPI.

The Ministry's rationale behind this move is that the objective of this step is to reduce congestion at toll plazas and ensure the seamless movement of vehicles. The FASTag system facilitates faster payments, thereby mitigating the issues of long queues and traffic jams. Furthermore, action may also be initiated under relevant statutory provisions against those who violate these rules.

FASTag Annual Pass
According to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), vehicle drivers will now be required to pay ₹3,075 for an annual pass, instead of the previous rate of ₹3,000. This new rate will be applicable for the financial year 2026-27. This pass is intended for private (non-commercial) vehicles that are equipped with a valid and active FASTag. The new rates for annual toll passes will come into effect for the financial year 2026-27; furthermore, you may now be issued an e-notice for violating regulations at toll plazas. Any applicable fines must also be paid within three days.

**Double Fees for Blacklisted Vehicles**
If you arrive at a toll plaza with insufficient balance in your FASTag account—resulting in your vehicle being blacklisted—you are required to pay double the standard fee or make the payment in cash. However, this rule will now be strictly enforced specifically for vehicles that do not possess a FASTag. Until now, many toll plazas featured designated "cash lanes" where motorists could simply pay in cash to pass through; this practice has now been discontinued, and the regulations have been significantly tightened.

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