With a penetration rate of around 98 percent and over 8 crore users, FASTag has revolutionised the Electronic Toll Collection system in the country. In a transformative step towards hassle-free highway travel, union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari in June announced the introduction of annual FASTag pass for non-commercial private vehicles such as cars, jeeps and vans from August 15.The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is entrusted with maintenance, and management of the National Highways (NHs) of about 70,000 km length of the total network of 1,50,000 km. Additionally, NHAI is mandated to collect user fees (tolls) on these highways in accordance with the National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.At present, user fee is collected for approximately 45,000 km of NHs and Expressways. There are about 1,200 toll plazas, which are maintained by either the NHAI or concessionaires.Since February 2021, FASTag has been made mandatory for the payment of user fees at NH toll plazas, with a provision for a 100 per cent penalty for cash or non-FASTag payments. As of March 2024, more than 98 per cent of user fee payments are made through FASTag at the toll Plazas.
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