Cash Payments to Be Discontinued at Toll Plazas Starting April 10

Original: No cash at toll plazas from April 10

The Economic Times•Apr 7, 20262 min

In a Nutshell

Starting April 10, cash payments will no longer be accepted at toll plazas on national highways in India. Vehicles without a valid FASTag can use the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) but will incur a surcharge of 1.25 times the toll fee, aimed at reducing congestion and improving travel efficiency.

Key Points

01Cash payments at toll plazas will end on April 10.
02Vehicles without a valid FASTag can pay via UPI at a higher charge.
03The surcharge for UPI payments is 1.25 times the applicable toll fee.
04This change aims to reduce queues and enhance highway travel efficiency.
05NHAI has over 50 lakh FASTag annual subscribers and 26.55 crore transactions since launch.

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Full Summary

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in India has announced that cash payments at toll plazas will cease from April 10. This decision is part of an effort to streamline toll collection and reduce congestion at toll gates. Vehicles entering toll plazas without a valid FASTag will have the option to pay via the Unified Payment Interface (UPI), but they will incur a surcharge of 1.25 times the standard toll fee. This move is expected to facilitate smoother travel for commuters on national highways. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) recently reported surpassing 50 lakh subscribers for its FASTag annual pass, which allows users to make up to 200 toll crossings for ₹3,000 (roughly $36 USD) per year. Since its introduction on August 15, there have been 26.55 crore transactions using these passes across more than 1,150 fee plazas nationwide.

Key Figures

1.25 times

Surcharge for UPI payments without FASTag

50 lakh

Number of FASTag annual subscribers

₹3,000

Cost for FASTag annual pass allowing 200 toll crossings

26.55 crore

Total transactions through FASTag since launch

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Why It Matters

This change will likely reduce waiting times at toll booths, benefiting daily commuters and long-distance travelers by making highway travel faster and more efficient.

Who is affected

Commuters and travelers using national highways in India.

What to know

Travelers should ensure they have a valid FASTag to avoid extra charges.

FAQ

You can pay via UPI, but you will be charged 1.25 times the applicable toll fee.

The move aims to reduce long queues and improve the efficiency of highway travel.

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