In one of the more significant versions of the FASTag Annual Pass that will be launched on August 15, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has made it clear that scans of entry and exit tolls on the same length of the highway will be considered a single trip, and not two separate trips as it was interpreted so far.
This explanation is a relief to the commuters who feared being overcharged twice when passing through access-controlled expressways.
Entry-Exit = One Journey: Govt's Official Word
The FASTag Annual Pass is available at Rs 3,000 a year, covering 200 trips or a one-year validity, whichever is reached first. Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari announced the price. This is not a commercial user-route toll pass that can only be used by non-commercial private vehicles such as cars, jeeps, and vans.
On long-distance corridors where entry-exit-based tolling systems are implemented, e.g., the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway or Eastern Peripheral Expressway, the FASTag on a vehicle is read at both an entry point and an exit point. But in the case of people who have annual passes, this complete travelling would be considered as a single toll bill and no longer need to fear possible deductions.
So, What is the Pass?
The pass may only be used on National Highways and not on the toll roads of the states, city expressways, or municipal tolling stations. It is purely intended for personal cars only and does not encompass transportation by trucks, buses, cabs, and any other kind of transportation which are commercial.
Whenever a passholder crosses a toll plaza, be it for an amount of Rs 20 or Rs 120, it will be counted as one usage. Such consistency eliminates the uncertainty of the toll fee, particularly among those who travel on the road frequently.
Benefits and Application Process
Jagannath Padmanabhan, Senior Director at CRISIL, said that this move would be a cost-effective solution for the users traveling a further journey of 2,500-3,000 km throughout the year, with financial and time benefits.
FASTag Annual Pass can also be availed through a special link on the future Highway Travel App, on the official website of NHAI, and MoRTH. The activation of the subscription will require the registration number and FASTag ID of vehicle owners.
Will the Price remain Fixed?
Not permanently. The price of the annual FASTag pass can be revised on April 1 each year, either due to inflation or a change of policy. Nevertheless, the effort will represent an apparent shift toward electronic toll collection, traffic decongestion, and a trouble-free passage on Indian roads.
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