New Delhi, Oct 27: The government has introduced a 'Concessional Local Pass' for eligible non-commercial vehicle owners residing within 20 km of a National Highway fee plaza, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said on Tuesday. The provision comes into effect from November 1, 2026.

Source: IANS

The annual fee will be Rs 1,500 for fee plazas located outside municipal or local town limits and Rs 3,000 for plazas situated within those limits. The change has been notified through the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2026, under the National Highways Act, 1956, and the rates may be revised by the Central Government every year with effect from April 1.

Eligible owners must hold a valid and functional FASTag registered for non-commercial use. They can choose between the existing monthly pass and the new annual concessional pass. At the current monthly rate of Rs 360 — yaani Rs 4,320 over a year — the annual pass saves a regular local commuter Rs 2,820 a year at plazas outside municipal limits and Rs 1,320 at plazas within them.

The pass will be valid only at the specific fee plaza for which it is issued and cannot be transferred to another plaza. It will not be available on National Highways or Expressways where toll is collected through a closed user-fee collection system, and it will not be issued where a service road or an alternative road is available for commuters, the ministry said.

Source: Devdiscourse (PTI)

The annual pass will be available at eligible toll plazas from November 1, and through the Rajmargyatra mobile application from December 1, 2026, according to the ministry. With over 13 crore FASTags issued across the country, the government said the new provision aims to make travel more economical for residents living near toll plazas and to improve ease of commuting for local residents.