The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will introduce a concessional annual local pass for commuters living within 20 km of a toll plaza from November 1. The facility, available only for non-commercial vehicles, is intended to improve compliance with the Multi-lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system and reduce the number of e-notices issued to local vehicle owners.

Until now, residents near fee plazas could obtain only monthly passes. Officials said the annual facility would reduce the need for monthly renewals, manual documentation and physical verification, while costing less than the cumulative monthly fee. The pass is also expected to encourage more commuters to link their vehicles with the FASTag system.

MLFF tolling is currently operational at seven fee plazas. The annual pass will cost Rs. 1,500 at fee plazas in local town areas and Rs. 3,000 at plazas in urban areas, compared with Rs. 350 for a monthly pass. Local passes are currently applicable at 97 urban and 861 rural point-based fee plazas on national highways.

Officials said about Rs. 1.36 bn, or 0.2 per cent of total user-fee collections, comes from local toll passes. Around 400,000 people use monthly passes to cross fee plazas, with urban locations accounting for the largest share. In Delhi-NCR, 7,800 passes have been issued at Bijwasan, while Kherki Daula and Mundka-Bakkarwala have about 3,000 each.

Under the barrier-less system, vehicles without a valid pass may receive an e-notice for unpaid user fees. If the amount is not paid within 72 hours, the commuter must pay double the toll. The annual pass will be valid only at the fee plaza for which it is issued and will not be transferable. Eligible plazas will be listed on the Rajmargyatra app, where residents can purchase the facility. DigiLocker and VAHAN will verify the applicant’s address, vehicle details and linked FASTag against the 20-km eligibility requirement. The pass will not apply to highways or expressways using a closed user-fee collection system.