Will two-wheelers soon pay toll via FASTag? Nitin Gadkari sets the record straight

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday dismissed reports suggesting that two-wheeler vehicles will be brought under the toll tax regime, calling such claims “misleading”.

In a post on X, the minister said, “Some media houses are spreading misleading news about imposing toll tax on two-wheeler vehicles. No such decision has been proposed. The exemption on toll for two-wheeler vehicles will continue fully.”

Gadkari took strong exception to the coverage by some outlets, singling out a report by TV9 Bharatvarsh which claimed that from July 15, two-wheelers would be required to pay toll via FASTag and face a fine of ₹2,000 for non-compliance.

“Spreading misleading news without verifying the truth to create a sensation is not a sign of healthy journalism. I condemn this,” he wrote in Hindi.

TV9 Bharatvarsh had reported that two-wheeler riders will be brought under toll norms starting next month and would be required to pay using FASTag. The report had also claimed that violations would attract penalties.

The clarification comes amid the ministry’s recent announcement of a FASTag-based annual toll pass for private vehicles, which will be available from August 15.

The pass, priced at ₹3,000, will be valid for a year or 200 trips, whichever comes earlier.

“The ₹3,000 pass is good for non-commercial vehicles such as automobiles, jeeps, and vans and is valid for a year or up to 200 trips, whichever comes first,” Gadkari had said in a separate post on X.

The minister said the pass will address long-standing concerns about toll plazas located within a 60-km radius and simplify toll payments through a single, affordable transaction.

“By reducing wait times, easing congestion, and minimising disputes at toll plazas, the annual pass aims to deliver a faster and smoother travel experience for millions of private vehicle owners,” he added.