NHAI’s annual pass could reduce cost of travel on highways for private vehicles

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced an annual pass that will allow those using private vehicles to take 200 trips a year on national highways and expressways. By paying ₹3,000, one can make trips for one year or make 200 trips (whichever comes first) without the need to recharge.

Virender Sambyal, Regional Officer, NHAI, Chennai, said that it would be applicable only to private cars, jeeps, and vans. “At toll plazas on expressways, State Highways managed by State governments or local bodies, and parking lots and malls, the regular Fastag will continue to operate,” he said.

“The annual pass, which will come into force on August 15, can be activated only through the Rajmargyatra mobile app or on the NHAI website. It will be activated on the existing Fastag ID,” he said. Each time a vehicle crosses a toll plaza, it will be counted as one trip. For example, if a person takes a private vehicle from Chennai to Tiruchi, it will be counted as seven trips, as there are seven toll plazas on that stretch. A round trip would be counted as 14 trips.

Under Fastag, a return trip to Tiruchi would cost ₹990 and 10 return trips would cost ₹9,900. With this annual pass, it would only take 140 trips and a potential saving of up to ₹6,900. Once the 200 trips are over, the users can recharge.