FASTag Not Compulsory to Two-wheelers: Govt Sets the Record Straight
FASTag Not Compulsory to Two-wheelers: Govt Sets the Record Straight
The Government of India has come forward to rebuke viral media reports and speculations on social media that two-wheelers are to be charged with tolls after July 15, 2025.
A clarification made by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) called the reports baseless and clarified that no such proposal is on the cards.
Some news stories and social media posts had indicated that two-wheelers, motorcycles and scooters would come under the FASTag tolling mechanism by the middle of this month. Such rumours mentioned possible policy deliberations and toll plans, creating panic among the millions of two-wheeler users in India.
The misunderstanding was also instigated by the establishment of debates on the streamlining of the toll collecting procedure and the establishment of a single toll system that would apply to all types of cars.
Nevertheless, such a claim has not been backed by a gazette notification, official draft policy, or any communication from MoRTH.
On June 27, the NHAI responded through social media and official channels, stating:
“Some sections of the media have reported that the Government of India plans to levy user fees on two-wheelers. NHAI would like to clarify that no such proposal is under consideration. There are no plans to introduce toll charges for two-wheelers.”
This clarification lays to rest the rumours which have been prevalent on the internet and calms down riders that the government policy on no toll entry of two-wheelers is intact.
To date, the two-wheelers do not pay any tolls on most of the national highways and interstate highways in India. They also do not have to install the FASTag to use the toll booths. The exemption shows the attempts of the government to control the mobility at the low level of low-income earners and to make it affordable and decrease the congestion at toll plazas.
Any future policy change in the tolling policy would have to go through a formal gazette notice and disclosure to the population- no such thing has happened.
In the meantime, the two-wheeler riders are allowed to travel toll-free without a FASTag requirement. It is warned that the population should not trust fake news and should search only government channels to receive information about any change to a certain policy.
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