No Cash Payments at Toll Plazas from April 10; UPI Option Costs 1.25x More

Vehicles without a valid FASTag can still pay via UPI, but at 1.25 times the standard toll fee. A senior NHAI official explained that this aims to cut long queues and smooth highway travel for commuters.

The ministry's gazette notification states: "If the user of a vehicle enters a fee plaza without a FASTag or a valid functional FASTag... and opts to pay fee through the Unified Payment Interface (UPI), he shall pay 1.25 times of the user fee applicable to that category of vehicle... Provided that if the owner or driver of the vehicle does not opt to pay a fee in the manner specified under this rule, such vehicle shall be dealt in accordance with rule 14."

NHAI recently surpassed 5 million subscribers for its FASTag annual pass (Rs 3,000/year for up to 200 toll crossings), with 265.5 million transactions since its August 15 launch. India has over 1,150 toll plazas on national highways and expressways.