Your Car Number Will Be Scanned For Automatic Toll Collection. Do You Still Need FASTag? | Business News

Last Updated:February 10, 2026, 18:57 IST

Automatic toll collection via cameras and ANPR starts in March; FASTag will still be needed for payments on expressways and national highways

India has more than 1,000 toll plazas, many of which witness long queues of vehicles. (PTI)

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is preparing to introduce automatic toll collection for vehicles travelling on expressways and national highways, a move that could begin on select stretches as early as March 2026. Under the proposed system, cameras will scan vehicle number plates and toll charges will be deducted from the driver’s account based on the distance travelled.

At present, toll is collected on nearly 45,000 kilometres of the country’s 1.5 lakh kilometre national highway and expressway network. India has more than 1,000 toll plazas, many of which witness long queues of vehicles, particularly when cars do not have FASTag or when their FASTag accounts are inactive or blocked. These delays often increase waiting time for commuters.

According to the ministry, the new plan involves removing physical toll barriers and introducing Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology for toll collection. Cameras installed along highways will read vehicle number plates and calculate the charges automatically. Tenders for implementing this technology have already been issued at some locations, and the system is expected to be gradually expanded across the country.

Despite the introduction of camera-based toll collection, FASTag will continue to remain in use. Officials from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways have clarified that even after the new system is introduced, drivers will still need FASTag, as toll charges will continue to be deducted through the existing payment mechanism.

Since many FASTag accounts are linked to digital wallets rather than directly to bank accounts, the current deduction process will remain in place alongside the new technology.

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