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The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has expanded its digital FASTag local pass facility to 121 toll plazas across the country, making life significantly easier for residents living near highway corridors. The rollout allows eligible local commuters to apply for and renew discounted monthly passes directly through the Rajmargyatra mobile app, eliminating the need to physically visit toll plaza offices with stacks of paper documents.
The initiative was first tested in July 2026 as a pilot project at the Mundka–Bakkarwala toll plaza on Urban Extension Road-II in New Delhi. Following positive commuter feedback and smooth backend operations, the authority decided to scale the system nationwide, with plans to bring more plazas onboard soon. Under existing highway rules, vehicle owners residing within a 20-kilometer radius of a toll plaza are eligible for a discounted monthly local pass, granting unlimited trips through that specific plaza during the calendar month.
Previously, getting or renewing this local concession was a tedious chore. Commuters had to drive to the toll plaza counter, present original identity and address proofs, submit photocopies of their vehicle registration certificate (RC), and wait for manual verification by plaza staff. The process frequently led to long counter queues, arguments over eligibility boundaries, and avoidable delays. The new digital system replaces that entire offline hassle with a quick, paperless process on a smartphone.
The system works by connecting directly with government digital registries, including DigiLocker and the centralized VAHAN database. When a user applies via the Rajmargyatra app, the platform automatically fetches and verifies the owner's address, vehicle details, and active FASTag status. To determine eligibility without bias, the app uses GIS mapping to check whether the applicant's verified address falls within the mandatory 20 km zone from the chosen toll plaza.
By automating verification through linked government databases and geo-fencing, NHAI has removed manual discretion and paperwork entirely. This ensures a transparent, tamper-proof process that prevents fake documents while stopping revenue leakage for road agencies. Commuters can check the full list of enabled toll plazas directly on the official portal to confirm their eligibility before applying or setting up auto-renewals.
The digital local pass is part of a larger tech modernization push across India’s national highways. Along with mobile app services, highway authorities are currently testing barrierless electronic tolling, automated number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, and satellite-based GPS tolling systems to ensure free-flowing traffic. By digitizing local passes and cutting out manual counter visits, the latest move takes another practical step toward seamless, commuter-friendly highway travel.