In a twin move to modernize highway user experience and enforce digital payments, the Government has announced:
From 15 November 2025, vehicles paying tolls in cash (without FASTag) will be charged double the standard fee, and those paying via UPI without FASTag will pay 1.25× the standard rate. The aim is to push digital transactions and reduce cash dependency at toll plazas.
Concurrently, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will install vertical QR-code signboards along highway stretches, especially near amenities, rest stops, toll plazas, and lay-byes, displaying project details (NH number, chainage, construction period), emergency helplines, contact info (toll, project, patrol), and nearby infrastructure (hospitals, petrol pumps, charging stations, repair shops).
Together, these changes signal a shift toward greater transparency, accountability, and user empowerment on India’s highways.
By combining demand-side nudges (penalising cash payments) with information-side reforms (QR signboards), the transport ministry is leveraging digital infrastructure and user awareness to improve compliance, reduce leakage, and enhance safety outcomes. The alignment of regulatory discipline with transparency might also support accountability in highway contracts and public trust in toll operations.
What is FASTag? → A radio-frequency ID (RFID)–based toll payment system in India that enables automatic deduction of tolls as vehicles pass, reducing congestion and cash handling.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: As the government enforces tougher toll payment rules and rollouts QR transparency, how can states, rural highway users, and smaller operators be included-especially in areas with weak digital access-to avoid exclusion or penalizing the digitally underserved?
Follow the full news here:
Toll Rule Amendment: pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2174761
QR-Info Sign Boards: pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2174411
