Government Schemes and Policy · 22 February 2026

NHAI discontinues cash toll payments from 1 April 2026

Exam-focused facts from the 22 February 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

  • National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will stop accepting cash at all national toll plazas from 1 April 2026.
  • All toll payments will be processed only through digital modes using FASTag or Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
  • Vehicles entering a toll plaza without a valid FASTag are charged twice the applicable user fee if payment is made in cash.
  • Users paying via UPI are charged 1.25 times the user fee for the applicable vehicle category.
  • Over 98% penetration of FASTag has transformed toll collection practices across the country.
  • More than 1,150 fee plazas on various National Highways and Expressways will implement the digital-only payment system.