Highway users will be out of pocket! Cash stopped at toll plaza from today, those without FASTag will have to pay heavy fine

New Delhi: If you are going to go out on the National Highway with your car today, then this news is very important for you. Today, from April 10, 2026, a major change in the rules has come into effect at toll plazas across the country. The Central Government has now completely said goodbye to cash payment at toll plazas. This means that now you will not be able to cross the toll by paying cash.

Those without FASTag were fined 25% more

According to the new notification of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, if your vehicle has a valid FASTag If it is not installed then you will have to shell out more to cross the toll. Vehicles without Fastag will now be charged normal fee at toll plaza. 25% extra charge Will have to give. If you do not have Fastag, then you will be able to pay only through UPI, but for this you will have to pay 1.25 times more money. For example, where earlier it used to cost Rs 100, now you will have to pay Rs 125.

Why was cash payment stopped?

This decision of the government has been taken to eliminate long queues at toll plazas. It is often seen that for cash payment, each vehicle had to wait for several minutes, resulting in kilometer long traffic jam. Now all toll payments will be done electronically, which will make your journey faster and easier. Through FASTag, the sensor itself will scan the tag installed on the windscreen of your vehicle and the money will be deducted directly from your bank account.

long distance travel will be expensive

At first glance, this additional charge of 25 percent may seem small, but for long distance travelers it is no less than a shock. For those who frequently use the highway, not having Fastag can prove to be very costly. Therefore, the government and NHAI advise to get your FASTag activated today itself, so that you do not have to pay unnecessary fines.

Time, fuel and environment will benefit

The biggest advantage of this digital transformation is that now the hassle of stopping at toll will be eliminated. When vehicles run without stopping, traffic flow will improve and travel time will be saved. Apart from this, the fuel which was wasted by keeping the engine running while standing at the toll, will also be saved. Burning less fuel directly means less air pollution, which will also be of great benefit to the environment.

What has changed for common passengers?

Most of the passengers already have FASTag, nothing changed for them. But those who still resorted to cash occasionally while travelling, will now have to change their habit. This is a historic step towards taking India towards digital and smart transport system. Although some people may face difficulty in digital payments in the beginning, in the long run this system will prove to be a time and money saver for everyone.