If you are planning to travel long distance on National Highway or Expressway, then this news is very important for you. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is going to take a revolutionary step to make road travel even more modern and faster. From April 1, 2026, the era of cash at National Highway toll plazas is going to end forever.
After this new proposal of the government, now the transaction of notes at toll booth will become history. If your vehicle does not have the facility of digital payment, then your vehicle may get stuck on the highway and you may have to face a lot of trouble.
cash payment will stop
The main objective of NHAI is to make the toll collection system completely transparent and hi-tech. At present, despite Fastag being mandatory, many people go to the cash lane and pay in cash, which leads to huge traffic jams at the toll plaza. According to the new rule, cash counters at toll plazas will be completely closed from April 1. Now you will have only digital means like Fastag and UPI to pay toll tax.
Will get relief from traffic jam
It is often seen that it takes a lot of time for a vehicle to pass through the toll plaza due to change in money. NHAI believes that stopping cash payment will eliminate long queues at toll plazas, save fuel, reduce pollution and bring complete transparency in the toll collection process.
What if there is no balance in Fastag?
After the implementation of the new rule, if there is no balance in your Fastag or it is not working, then you will have to make the payment on the spot through UPI (QR Code). But experts advise that you should recharge your Fastag before starting the journey, because sometimes digital payment may get delayed due to network problems.
Keep these things in mind to make your journey pleasant
The purpose of this change by NHAI is to make your travel easier. Therefore, before April 1, ensure that your vehicle has an active Fastag, the KYC of Fastag is updated and the UPI app (like Google Pay or PhonePe) is working on your phone for emergencies.