Ministry data shows Karnataka leading the country in penalties imposed on motorists without valid FASTags in 2024-25, as the Centre rolls out relaxations and an annual FASTag pass.
Karnataka has emerged as the highest collector of FASTag-related penalties in the country during the 2024-25 financial year, according to official data on double user fees released by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
The State collected a total of ₹129.91 crore from motorists who either did not use FASTag or were found using invalid, damaged, or non-functional tags while passing through toll plazas. This puts Karnataka at the top of the national list, ahead of several large and high-traffic States.
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Under the existing toll rules, all lanes at toll plazas across the country were designated as FASTag-only lanes from midnight on February 15, 2021. Since then, any vehicle entering a toll plaza without a valid and functional FASTag is required to pay a penalty equivalent to twice the applicable toll fee for its category.
Officials said highway users are repeatedly advised to ensure that their FASTag is active, correctly fixed on the vehicle’s windscreen, and sufficiently recharged before reaching toll plazas to avoid penalties and delays.
Top Five States in FASTag Penalty Collections (FY 2024–25)
• Karnataka – ₹129,91,72,480
• Maharashtra – ₹110,64,69,570
• Uttar Pradesh – ₹81,06,66,655
• Gujarat – ₹78,58,99,385
• Tamil Nadu – ₹71,82,33,400
In October, the Union government announced a partial relaxation aimed at reducing the burden on motorists who do not use FASTag, while still encouraging digital payments. From November 15, 2025, drivers without FASTag who choose to pay toll charges through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) will be charged 1.25 times the applicable toll, instead of the double fee imposed on cash payments.
This change was made by amending the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.
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Separately, the Centre introduced the FASTag Annual Pass on August 15, 2025, to support frequent national highway users. Priced at ₹3,000, the pass is available for non-commercial vehicles such as cars, jeeps, and vans. It allows up to 200 toll crossings or one year of usage, whichever comes earlier, across all toll plazas operated by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
The annual pass can be purchased through the Rajmargyatra mobile application or the official NHAI website and becomes active within two hours of a one-time payment. NHAI officials said the move is intended to make highway travel smoother, reduce repeated recharges, and promote a fully cashless toll collection system.