New Toll Rules from November 15: Double Charge for Cash, 1.25x for UPI Without FASTag

Udaipur, October 6 (Udaipur Kiran): In a major push to strengthen the Digital India Mission, the Central Government has announced strict new toll payment rules for vehicles without FASTag. Under the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) (Third Amendment) Rules, 2025, the new system will be effective nationwide from November 15, 2025.

With this amendment, the government has revised the 2008 National Highways Fee Rules, setting clear guidelines for vehicles entering toll plazas without a valid and functional FASTag. The move aims to ensure 100% digital toll collection, promote cashless transactions, enhance transparency, and reduce congestion at toll plazas.

🔹 Key Highlights of the New Rule

• Vehicles without a valid FASTag will be required to pay double the toll fee if paying in cash.

• If the payment is made through UPI, the applicable toll will be 1.25 times the standard fee.

🔹 Example

If the toll rate for a vehicle is ₹100:

• Cash Payment: ₹200 (Double charge)

• UPI Payment: ₹125 (1.25x charge)

🔹 Why the Change

Although FASTag has been widely implemented across the country, the government observed that a small percentage of vehicles still use cash, causing delays and traffic jams at toll plazas. The third amendment aims to eliminate cash dependency and make digital payment universal on highways.

🔹 Expected Benefits

• Promotes faster toll transactions and reduces waiting time.

• Encourages digital payments and transparency.

• Helps achieve a seamless travel experience on national highways.

🔹 New Rule at a Glance

• Effective Date: November 15, 2025

• Cash Payment: 2x of applicable toll

• UPI Payment: 1.25x of applicable toll

This landmark decision is expected to transform the toll payment experience across India by ensuring faster, cashless, and more efficient highway operations.