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Toll Plaza New Rules: Cash Transactions to Stop from April 1st, FASTag-UPI Mandatory; Penalty Possible
The Central Government has taken a significant decision for motorists traveling on national highways across the country. From April 1st, 2026, all toll plazas will become completely cashless. This means that cash will not be accepted for toll payments. Only FASTag and UPI will be the available options.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has stated that the decision to close 'cash lanes' has been taken to reduce human intervention at toll plazas and to minimize traffic congestion. Until now, at least one lane was available for cash payments, which will now be closed.
If you do not have a valid FASTag or if it does not have sufficient balance, you will have to pay 1.25 times the toll amount as a penalty via UPI. This decision is a step towards future barrier-free tolling and GPS-based toll systems.
Benefits for travelers:
Time saving: Long queues will be eliminated.
Fuel saving: No need for frequent stops.
Transparency: Greater transparency due to digital transactions.
FeatureBefore April 1st, 2026After April 1st, 2026Cash PaymentAvailable in limited lanesCompletely closedFASTagMandatory, but cash option availableHighly mandatoryOther optionSmart card / CashOnly UPITime at toll plaza45-60 seconds0-10 seconds
The Central Government has taken a significant decision for motorists traveling on national highways across the country. From April 1st, 2026, all toll plazas will become completely cashless. This means that cash will not be accepted for toll payments. Only FASTag and UPI will be the available options.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has stated that the decision to close 'cash lanes' has been taken to reduce human intervention at toll plazas and to minimize traffic congestion. Until now, at least one lane was available for cash payments, which will now be closed.
If you do not have a valid FASTag or if it does not have sufficient balance, you will have to pay 1.25 times the toll amount as a penalty via UPI. This decision is a step towards future barrier-free tolling and GPS-based toll systems.
Benefits for travelers:
Time saving: Long queues will be eliminated.
Fuel saving: No need for frequent stops.
Transparency: Greater transparency due to digital transactions.
FeatureBefore April 1st, 2026After April 1st, 2026Cash PaymentAvailable in limited lanesCompletely closedFASTagMandatory, but cash option availableHighly mandatoryOther optionSmart card / CashOnly UPITime at toll plaza45-60 seconds0-10 seconds
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has stated that the decision to close 'cash lanes' has been taken to reduce human intervention at toll plazas and to minimize traffic congestion. Until now, at least one lane was available for cash payments, which will now be closed.
If you do not have a valid FASTag or if it does not have sufficient balance, you will have to pay 1.25 times the toll amount as a penalty via UPI. This decision is a step towards future barrier-free tolling and GPS-based toll systems.
Benefits for travelers:
Time saving: Long queues will be eliminated.
Fuel saving: No need for frequent stops.
Transparency: Greater transparency due to digital transactions.
FeatureBefore April 1st, 2026After April 1st, 2026Cash PaymentAvailable in limited lanesCompletely closedFASTagMandatory, but cash option availableHighly mandatoryOther optionSmart card / CashOnly UPITime at toll plaza45-60 seconds0-10 seconds
