From today, you will not be able to pay toll in cash on the National Highway, vehicles without FASTag will have to pay 1.25 times the charge on UPI:

New Delhi: For the passengers traveling on the National Highway (NH) and Expressways of the country, today i.e. 10 April 2026 There has been a big change in the rules since. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has implemented the decision to completely stop cash payment at toll plazas. Now ‘cash’ will not be accepted at toll booths. The main objective of this step is to eliminate long queues at toll plazas and make travel completely digital and convenient.

FASTag mandatory, extra charge on UPI

According to the Gazette Notification issued by the Ministry, the primary means of toll collection is FASTag Will remain the same. As a ‘fallback’ option for vehicles which do not have valid Fastag, the government has UPI (Unified Payment Interface) is allowed. However, this feature will not be free.

UPI Payment Terms: If you enter the toll plaza without Fastag and choose payment through UPI, you will be charged the normal toll rate. 1.25 times (25% extra) Will have to pay.

Provision of penalty: If a driver neither uses Fastag nor opts for digital payment, the vehicle may be fined or removed from the highway under Rule 14 of the NH Tariff Rules.

New rules for ID verification and security

Apart from toll payment, some more stringent rules have also been implemented from today:

Identity card mandatory: All drivers using the highway must have a valid government ID proof such as Aadhaar, driving license or passport. Random checks can be done at tolls or checkpoints.

Exempted FASTag: Those who fall in the toll exemption category will now have to use ‘Exempted FASTag’ instead of showing their ID card. An annual pass facility is also available for private cars, the price of which has now been increased. ₹3,075 Has been done.

Why was this decision taken?

National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials say that efforts are being made to create a digital ecosystem at more than 1,150 toll plazas across the country. Cash transactions often led to disputes between toll personnel and passengers and led to traffic jams. Going completely cashless will save time and also reduce fuel consumption.

Advice for travelers: If you are going out on the highway today, make sure that your Fastag is active and has sufficient balance. Passengers without Fastag should keep the UPI app ready in their phones, so that there is no delay at the gate.