Patna: Motorists using national highways will no longer be able to pay toll charges in cash from midnight on April 10, after the Union ministry of road transport and highways mandated a complete shift to digital payments across toll plazas.
Under the new rules, all toll transactions must be made electronically, with systems such as FASTag expected to handle the bulk of traffic. Vehicles fitted with FASTag will be able to pass through plazas without stopping, maintaining a steady speed of about 20km/h.
The changes also end the long-standing practice that allowed some government officials to pass tolls free of charge by showing identity cards. Authorities said that exemption will now apply only to designated vehicles such as ambulances, fire services and police, as well as officially registered government vehicles.
Officials warned that any vehicle attempting to cross a toll plaza without complying with the new system will face penalties, with e-challans issued automatically against the vehicle’s registration number.
While the transition is expected to ease congestion and improve efficiency, commuters using UPI-based payments will incur a small surcharge of 0.25%.
The ministry said the move is aimed at creating a seamless, transparent and fully digital tolling system across the country, reducing delays and limiting cash handling at highway checkpoints.
