Concessional Local Pass for NH toll plazas: ₹1,500/year from Nov 1
Synopsis
From 1 November 2026, residents living within 20 km of a National Highway toll plaza can buy an annual Concessional Local Pass for as little as ₹1,500 — a targeted fix for daily commuters who currently pay full toll rates every trip. With 13 crore FASTags already in circulation and the FASTag Annual Pass hitting 1 crore users, the Ministry of Road Transport is stacking up fixed-cost options, making recurring toll costs more predictable for millions of households.
Key Takeaways
The Concessional Local Pass for National Highway toll plazas takes effect from 1 November 2026 .
Annual fee is ₹1,500 outside municipal limits and ₹3,000 within municipal or local town areas.
Eligible applicants: non-commercial vehicle owners with a valid FASTag , residing within 20 km of the fee plaza.
The pass is plaza-specific and non-transferable ; it will not be available on closed user-fee system highways or where a service or alternative road exists.
Available at eligible toll plazas and through the Rajmargyatra App from 1 November 2026 .
The FASTag Annual Pass , launched 15 August 2025 , has crossed 1 crore passes across 1,150 plazas at a one-time fee of ₹3,075 .
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, introduced a Concessional Local Pass for eligible non-commercial vehicle owners residing within 20 km of a National Highway fee plaza, with the scheme set to take effect from 1 November 2026. The move is designed to ease the financial burden on residents who regularly cross toll plazas near their homes.
What the Pass Costs
The annual fee is set at ₹1,500 for fee plazas located outside municipal or local town areas, and ₹3,000 for toll plazas situated within such limits. Vehicle owners who already hold a valid and functional FASTag and reside within the 20-km radius of an eligible fee plaza can opt for either the existing monthly pass or the new Concessional Local Pass.
The pass is plaza-specific and non-transferable — it will be valid only at the fee plaza for which it is issued and cannot be used at any other toll point on the network.
Who Is Eligible and Where It Applies
Only eligible non-commercial vehicle owners with a functional FASTag qualify. Notably, the pass will not be available on National Highways or Expressways where toll collection operates on a closed user-fee collection system. It will also not be issued at plazas where a service road or an alternative road is available for local commuters, according to the official statement.
How to Get the Pass
The Concessional Local Pass will be available directly at eligible toll plazas from 1 November 2026. It can also be obtained digitally through the Rajmargyatra App, making the process accessible without a physical visit to the plaza. Rates may be revised by the Centre annually, with any revisions taking effect on 1 April each year.
Regulatory Basis
The amendment has been notified through the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2026, under powers conferred by the National Highways Act, 1956. The government cited the landmark of over 13 crore FASTags issued across the country as the ecosystem foundation that makes such a targeted pass feasible.
FASTag Annual Pass Milestone
The announcement comes alongside news that the FASTag Annual Pass — launched on 15 August 2025 — recently crossed 1 crore passes issued. Applicable across approximately 1,150 fee plazas on National Highways and National Expressways, the Annual Pass offers unlimited crossings for one year or up to 200 plaza crossings at a one-time fee of ₹3,075. The milestone underlines growing commuter appetite for fixed-cost toll solutions ahead of the Concessional Local Pass rollout.
Together, these initiatives signal a broader policy push toward simplifying toll payment and reducing the per-trip cost burden on regular highway users — a direction likely to see further refinement as adoption data comes in post-November.
Point of View
Yet leaves out those on closed-system expressways or anywhere an alternative road technically exists — carve-outs that could exclude a significant share of genuine local commuters. The ₹3,000 rate within municipal limits is also double the rural rate, which seems counterintuitive given that urban residents typically face the heaviest toll frequency. The real test will be in implementation: whether district-level residency verification is fast, fraud-proof, and digitally accessible to users beyond the tech-savvy Rajmargyatra App base. With the FASTag Annual Pass already at 1 crore and the broader FASTag base at 13 crore, the infrastructure for a unified, income-linked concessional tier exists — the government has yet to build it.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Concessional Local Pass for National Highways?
The Concessional Local Pass is an annual toll pass introduced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for non-commercial vehicle owners who reside within 20 km of a specific National Highway fee plaza. It is priced at ₹1,500 per year outside municipal limits and ₹3,000 within municipal or local town areas, and takes effect from 1 November 2026.
Who is eligible for the Concessional Local Pass?
Eligible applicants are non-commercial vehicle owners with a valid and functional FASTag who reside within 20 km of an eligible National Highway fee plaza. The pass is not available on highways with a closed user-fee collection system or at plazas where a service road or alternative road exists for local commuters.
How can I get the Concessional Local Pass?
The pass will be available directly at eligible toll plazas from 1 November 2026. It can also be obtained through the Rajmargyatra App. The pass is valid only for the specific fee plaza for which it is issued and is non-transferable.
How does the Concessional Local Pass differ from the FASTag Annual Pass?
The FASTag Annual Pass costs ₹3,075 for one year or 200 plaza crossings and is applicable across approximately 1,150 National Highway and Expressway fee plazas. The Concessional Local Pass, by contrast, is priced lower (₹1,500–₹3,000), is restricted to a single fee plaza, and is targeted specifically at residents living within 20 km of that plaza.
Can the Concessional Local Pass rates change in future?
Yes. The Centre may revise the rates annually, with any revision taking effect from 1 April each year. The pass has been notified under the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2026, which allows for such periodic updates.
