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The Fastag annual pass scheme of Rs 3,000 starting from 15 August 2025 will provide relief to private drivers from tolls. But can this facility affect jobs?

India's Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has made a big announcement regarding the tolls on the roads across the country. Sharing a post, he has said that a FASTag-based annual pass worth Rs 3,000 is being started from 15 August 2025. Let's know what will happen with this and whether will it affect people's jobs as well.

According to reports, from 15 August 2025, the Government of India is going to start a new annual FASTag pass scheme. This pass available for Rs 3,000 will be valid for one year or 200 trips (whichever is earlier). This facility will be made available especially for non-commercial private vehicles like cars, jeeps and vans.

With this pass, drivers will not have the trouble of paying toll repeatedly and they will be able to travel uninterrupted on national highways across the country. The government says that this policy will not only improve the experience of the passengers, but will also eliminate the congestion, long queues, and disputes at the toll plazas.

What is special in this scheme?

Toll exemption for a year for Rs 3,000 or 200 trips
Only for private (non-commercial) vehicles
Valid on national highways across India
Direct toll payment through FASTag
Relief at toll plazas within a radius of 60 km

Where and how will the activation happen?

Soon a separate link will be released on the Highway Travel App, NHAI and MoRTH website.

But what about toll plaza employees?

While on one hand this scheme is going to provide relief to lakhs of passengers, on the other hand, concerns have also increased about the future of thousands of employees working at toll plazas. Till now, staff was needed at toll plazas to take cash, give receipts and resolve disputes. But after the introduction of Fastag and now this annual pass, the need for toll workers is decreasing.

Some experts believe that in the future such facilities can also come for other vehicles. This can reduce the number of staff in toll operator companies, which can affect jobs. Apart from this, people who were working by recharging Fastag or who were seen around the canopy toll plaza, such people can also be affected by this. However, no clear statement has come in this regard.