Karnataka tops FASTag penalty collections in 2024–25

Karnataka has emerged arsenic the highest collector of FASTag-related penalties successful the state during the 2024–25 fiscal year, according to information connected treble idiosyncratic fees by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The State collected ₹129.91 crore from motorists who either did not usage FASTag oregon whose tags were invalid oregon non-functional astatine toll plazas.

Maharashtra followed Karnataka with a punishment postulation of ₹110.64 crore, portion Uttar Pradesh stood 3rd with ₹81.06 crore. Other large States that reported precocious collections see Gujarat (₹78.59 crore), Tamil Nadu (₹71.82 crore), Haryana (₹71.67 crore), and Rajasthan (₹62.35 crore).

Under existing rules, each lanes astatine toll plazas were declared FASTag lanes with effect from midnight of February 15, 2021. Since then, vehicles not fitted with a valid and functional FASTag are required to wage a interest equivalent to doubly the applicable toll for their conveyance category.

Not willful refusal by motorists to follow FASTag

An authoritative of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said the precocious punishment figures bash not needfully bespeak willful refusal by motorists to follow FASTag. “In astir cases, treble idiosyncratic interest postulation happens owed to applicable issues specified arsenic insufficient balance, damaged oregon improperly affixed tags, blacklisted FASTags, oregon users being unaware that their tags person go inactive,” a elder authoritative told The Hindu.

He said that road users are repeatedly advised to guarantee that their FASTag is valid, decently fixed connected the windscreen, and adequately recharged earlier entering toll plazas.

Partial relaxation

In a determination aimed astatine easing the load connected non-FASTag users portion inactive nudging them towards integer payments, the Centre announced a partial relaxation successful October. From November 15, 2025, motorists without FASTag who take to wage tolls utilizing the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) are eligible for a discounted penalty. The Union authorities amended the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, to let specified users to beryllium charged 1.25 times the applicable idiosyncratic interest alternatively of treble the toll magnitude levied connected currency payments.

Apart from this, the Centre introduced the FASTag Annual Pass connected August 15, 2025, aimed astatine reducing the fiscal load connected predominant users of nationalist highways. The strategy allows owners of non-commercial vehicles, including cars, jeeps and vans, to acquisition an yearly walk priced astatine ₹3,000. The walk is valid for 200 toll crossings oregon 1 year, whichever is earlier, and tin beryllium utilized astatine each toll plazas operated by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

The yearly walk tin beryllium obtained done the Rajmargyatra app oregon the NHAI website, and becomes progressive wrong 2 hours of a one-time payment. According to the NHAI officials, the inaugural is intended to connection a seamless, cashless and cost-effective enactment for backstage motorists, portion reducing the request for predominant FASTag recharges.