Now Reading: NHAI launches digital FASTag local pass at 121 toll plazas
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NHAI launches digital FASTag local pass at 121 toll plazas
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced a digital FASTag local pass facility at 121 toll plazas across the country. Eligible local vehicle owners can now apply for the monthly local pass from home through the Rajmargyatra mobile app, eliminating the need to visit toll plazas for document submission and physical verification.
Only vehicle owners whose registered residential address falls within a 20 km radius of the toll plaza can apply. The pass allows unlimited travel through the specific toll plaza for one month, subject to applicable rules. NHAI started the digital pass in July 2024 at Delhi's Mundka-Bakkarwala toll plaza and expanded it after successful operations.
Verification will use DigiLocker, VAHAN, and GIS-based checks to confirm the applicant's address and vehicle details. NHAI said the digital process reduces manual intervention and improves transparency and accuracy in determining eligibility.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The digital local pass cuts a common rural and peri-urban commuter problem: repeated toll payments for short trips within the same stretch. Before this, local residents often skipped tolls or haggled at the booth. By tying eligibility to a GIS-verified 20 km radius, NHAI automates a concession that earlier relied on paper documents and manual scrutiny. The move also expands the Rajmargyatra app's utility beyond simply checking FASTag balances. For the 121 toll plazas now covered, watch whether NHAI adds a real-time grievance button for false rejections, which would test the system's transparency beyond what the announcement claims.
Source: bazaar.businesstoday.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
