Key Highlights:
- The NHAI has clarified that the popular FASTag Annual Pass is not valid on 12 specific highway stretches, including major bridges and tunnels.
- These exempted sections are primarily high-cost infrastructure projects with separate, independent toll rates.
- Commuters using these stretches will see a deduction from their regular FASTag wallet balance, not the annual pass.
NEW DELHI – In a crucial update for millions of daily commuters, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued a clarification regarding the validity of the FASTag Annual Pass. While the pass is a boon for frequent travelers, offering unlimited trips on a single stretch of highway for a year, it comes with specific, important exclusions that every driver must know to avoid unexpected toll deductions.
The widely adopted ‘Annual Pass’ scheme, designed to streamline travel and offer savings to regular users, does not grant free passage on all national highways. According to the NHAI, the pass is not valid on 12 distinct highway stretches across the country. These are not minor roads; the list includes some of India’s most significant and expensive infrastructure projects.
The exempted sections are primarily major bridges, tunnels, and elevated corridors that were built as high-cost projects. Their toll rates are calculated and maintained independently of the main highway stretches.
Key exclusions every driver should be aware of include:
- The Durgam Cheruvu Cable Bridge in Hyderabad.
- The Eastern Peripheral Highway.
- The Chenani-Nashri Tunnel in Jammu & Kashmir.
- The Mumbai Eastern Freeway.
- The Delhi-Meerut Expressway (DME).
- The Bandra-Worli Sea Link in Mumbai.
This means that if a commuter with an active Annual Pass for, say, the Delhi-Jaipur highway uses the Chenani-Nashri Tunnel or the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, the toll fee for that specific stretch will be automatically deducted from their main FASTag wallet balance. The annual pass will not cover the cost.
An NHAI official explained that the logic behind the exemption is financial viability. “These are capital-intensive projects with separate financing models. Keeping them out of the annual pass scheme ensures their operational and maintenance costs are sustainably covered through direct tolls,” the official stated.
For users, the takeaway is clear: always check your route. While the Annual Pass remains an excellent tool for predictable daily commutes on standard highway sections, vigilance is required when your journey includes any of these premium infrastructures. Ensuring your main FASTag wallet has a sufficient balance, even with an active annual plan, is essential to avoid any interruption in your smooth travel experience.
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