Students' safety: MVD, police to put in place stringent norms for drivers
Drivers who undergo training will be issued a certificate, which has to be shown to enforcement squads during flash vehicle checks as part of heightened safety measures. Training will be given after verification of the licence. Police clearance certificates will also be made mandatory in case the drivers have a history of involvement in traffic rule violations.
According to MVD officials, the fitness check of educational institution vehicles, a mandatory exercise carried out every year, will be completed by the end of May. Automated facilities will also be used to complete the process. By August, CCTV cameras will also be made mandatory for all educational institution vehicles, they said.
Traffic police officials said the fitness check was expected to cover over 1,000 school buses in Kozhikode city alone. They made it clear that safety norms would be equally applicable to drivers working for private coaching centres. For vehicles other than school buses, the stickers issued after police checking will be mandatory to operate pick-and-drop services. Mobile enforcement squads of the police and the MVD will jointly conduct checking to expose safety rule violations, they affirmed.
Meanwhile, the proposal to enable the GPS tracking system in school buses is still hanging in the balance due to the alleged lack of cooperation on the part of various school managements. Now, the GPS system is functional only in very few private institution buses in Kozhikode. The MVD's Vidhya Vahan mobile application designed for the purpose also remain underutilised.
Similarly, the launch of radio frequency identification and detection (RFID) cards for students, which was planned several years ago to track the entry and exit of students in school buses, has also not been implemented. Sources in the MVD and the police said technical issues related to the setting up of an exclusive server continued to be a major hurdle to its implementation.
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Hindustan Times
13 minutes ago
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Digitisation and more multilevel parking lots planned in Delhi
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Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
1.4 lakh people buy FASTag annual pass on day one: Step-by-step easy guide on how to recharge online
FASTag is a digital cashless toll collection system installed at toll plazas across India's highways. Using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology it allows automatic toll payments without the need to stop at counters. This reduces waiting time, cuts down fuel wastage, and helps in easing traffic congestion. The system has become a crucial part of road travel in India, especially for those who travel regularly on national highways. With its latest offering – the FASTag Annual Pass, the process has been made even more convenient for frequent travellers. FASTag Annual Pass: A New Initiative by NHAI The FASTag Annual Pass is a prepaid toll subscription launched by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in partnership with the Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL). #FASTagbasedAnnualPass for ₹3,000!✅ Valid for 1 year or up to 200 toll plaza crossings – whichever is earlier – starting from the day you activate it.✅ Enjoy seamless travel across highways without the hassle of frequent smarter, travel with #FASTag!… It is designed only for private, non-commercial vehicles (not applicable for yellow-board or commercial vehicles). The annual pass is priced at ₹3,000. It offers 200 toll-free trips or one year of travel validity (whichever comes first). The pass can be used at 1,150 toll plazas across National Highways (NH) and Expressways in India. This initiative makes road journeys stress-free by removing the need for frequent FASTag recharges. Huge Response on Independence Day Launch The scheme received an overwhelming response on the day of its launch. On 15th August 2025, more than 1.4 lakh people purchased and activated their FASTag annual pass, as reported in NDTV. According to NHAI reports: 1.39 lakh transactions were recorded on toll plazas by users on the first day itself. Around 20,000–25,000 users were actively using the RajmargYatra App at any given time. Buyers also received SMS alerts showing zero deductions, confirming free toll trips under the annual pass. This massive adoption shows how popular the FASTag annual pass has become among Indian commuters. Benefits of the FASTag Annual Pass The FASTag annual pass offers multiple advantages: Hassle-Free Travel – No need for frequent recharges or payments at toll plazas. Time-Saving – Automatic deduction without long halts at toll booths. Cost-Effective – One-time payment of ₹3,000 covers 200 trips. Easy to Upgrade – Existing FASTag users don't need to buy a new one, they can simply upgrade their current FASTag to an annual plan. How to Recharge FASTag Annual Pass Online? The FASTag annual pass is a one-time prepaid payment plan valid for one year or 200 trips, whichever comes first. During this period, there is no need to recharge it. However, to purchase or renew the pass, follow these steps: Step-by-Step Guide: Confirm Eligibility – Ensure your FASTag is active, linked to your Vehicle Registration Number (VRN), and properly fixed on your car's windscreen. The tag must not be blacklisted. Visit Official Platforms – Go to the Rajmarg Yatra App, or visit the official NHAI/MoRTH websites. Login and Fill Details – Enter your FASTag ID and vehicle details. Make Payment – Pay ₹3,000 using UPI, debit/credit card, or net banking. Activation – The pass is activated within two hours, and you will receive an SMS confirmation. Once the validity ends (either after 200 trips or one year), the pass will revert to a normal FASTag. To continue enjoying toll-free rides, you must repeat the process and pay ₹3,000 again, as auto-renewal is not available. How to Download FASTag Statement Online? To keep track of your toll usage, you can easily download your FASTag statement. This report shows travel dates, toll plaza details, trip count, and amount deductions. Here's how you can download it: Login to your FASTag issuer's website, mobile app, or the NETC portal using registered details. Go to the 'Transaction History' or 'Statements' section. Select the date range for which you want the statement. Choose your preferred format (PDF/Excel) and click 'Download'. This feature helps you monitor your toll expenses and keep records for future reference. The launch of the FASTag Annual Pass has transformed highway travel in India by making toll payments faster, easier, and completely cashless. With more than 1.4 lakh passes sold on the very first day, it is clear that the initiative has been a major success. For frequent travellers, this prepaid plan not only saves money but also ensures smooth journeys across national highways. If you haven't yet opted for the FASTag annual pass, it's the right time to get one and enjoy hassle-free travel. FAQs: Q. What is the FASTag Annual Pass? The FASTag annual pass is a prepaid subscription that allows private cars, jeeps, and vans to travel through designated National Highway (NH) and National Expressway (NE) toll plazas without paying per-trip charges. The pass covers 200 toll-free trips or one year of travel (whichever comes earlier). It will be available from 15th August 2025. Q. How long is the FASTag Annual Pass valid? The FASTag annual pass is valid for one year from the date of activation or 200 transactions (trips), whichever comes first. After this, the pass will automatically revert to a regular FASTag. If you want to continue enjoying toll-free trips, you must re-activate the annual pass by paying ₹3,000 again. Q. Do I need to buy a new FASTag to get the Annual Pass? No, you don't need to buy a new FASTag. The annual pass can be activated on your existing FASTag, provided: It is correctly fixed on your vehicle's windscreen. It is linked to a valid Vehicle Registration Number (VRN). The FASTag is not blacklisted. Q. Where can I purchase the FASTag Annual Pass? You can purchase the FASTag annual pass only through the official RajmargYatra mobile app or the NHAI website. It is not available on third-party apps or platforms. Q. How will the FASTag Annual Pass be activated? The activation process is quick and simple: Vehicle eligibility will first be verified. The user must make a payment of ₹3,000 for the base year 2025–26 via the RajmargYatra app or the NHAI website. Once payment is confirmed, the annual pass will be activated on the registered FASTag. Normally, the FASTag annual pass is activated within two hours, and an SMS confirmation is sent to the registered mobile number. Q. Which toll plazas are covered under the FASTag Annual Pass? The annual pass is valid only on National Highway (NH) and National Expressway (NE) toll plazas. At state highways, city-managed toll plazas, or parking areas, the FASTag will work as a regular FASTag, and normal charges may apply. Q. Is the FASTag Annual Pass available for all vehicle types? No. The pass is available only for private, non-commercial vehicles such as cars, jeeps, and vans. Commercial vehicles (yellow-board vehicles) are not eligible. If a commercial vehicle uses the annual pass, it will be immediately deactivated without notice. Q. Do I need to have the FASTag affixed on the vehicle's windscreen? Yes. To activate the FASTag annual pass, the FASTag must be properly fixed on the windscreen of the registered vehicle. Q. Can I transfer my FASTag Annual Pass to another vehicle? No. The annual pass is non-transferable. It is valid only for the vehicle where the FASTag is registered and affixed. Using it for another vehicle will result in deactivation. Q. Can I get an Annual Pass if my FASTag is linked only to a chassis number? No. The FASTag annual pass cannot be issued if your FASTag is registered only with a chassis number. You must update your FASTag with a valid Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) to activate the pass. Q. Is the FASTag Annual Pass mandatory? No. The FASTag annual pass is optional. If you do not wish to purchase it, your regular FASTag will continue to work as usual, and tolls will be deducted per trip. Q. What counts as a single trip under the FASTag Annual Pass? For Point-Based Toll Plazas: Each crossing counts as one trip. A round trip (to and fro) will count as two trips. For Closed Tolling Systems: One pair of entry and exit is considered one trip. Q. Will I receive SMS notifications for my FASTag Annual Pass? Yes. Once you activate the pass, you will receive SMS alerts about activation, toll usage, and trip counts on your registered mobile number. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
India.com
3 days ago
- India.com
FASTag annual pass now LIVE: Get 200 toll free trips on National Highways and Expressways for just Rs..., here's how it is activated
FASTag annual pass now LIVE: Get 200 toll free trips on National Highways and Expressways for just Rs..., here's how it is activated The government has launched a new annual highway toll pass for private cars, jeeps, and vans, starting Friday. This comes a day after the pre-booking for the FASTag-based annual pass began. The system uses RFID technology to automatically deduct toll charges from a prepaid account linked to the vehicle, allowing smooth travel on National Highways without the hassle of recharging FASTag again and again. With this new pass, private vehicle owners can make up to 200 toll-free trips on national highways and expressways in a year by paying a flat fee of Rs. 3,000. This pass is only for private vehicles. It will not be available for yellow-board taxis, commercial vehicles, buses, state highway tolls, city tolls, or parking areas. These will still work under the usual pay-per-use FASTag system. How will the FASTag pass be activated? To start using the pass, you need to verify your vehicle and FASTag, then pay Rs. 3,000. The pass will be activated within two hours of payment and will remain valid for one year. On Expressways or State Highways managed by state governments or local bodies, your FASTag will work like a regular one, and normal toll charges may apply. The pass is valid for one year from the activation date or until 200 trips are completed, whichever comes first. Once either limit is reached, the pass automatically reverts to a regular FASTag. Do existing users need a new FASTag? No. If you already have a FASTag on your vehicle, you don't need to buy a new one. The annual pass can be linked to your existing FASTag. However, completing the KYC process for your FASTag is necessary to get the pass. How many trips are allowed with the FASTag annual pass? The FASTag annual pass is valid for one year or up to 200 trips, whichever comes first. Once you complete either limit, your FASTag will go back to its normal pay-per-use mode. On closed tolling highways like the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway (where tolls are collected at exit points), one trip covers both the entry and exit. On open tolling routes like Delhi-Chandigarh (where tolls are collected at each plaza), each toll crossing counts as one trip. Average highway tolls typically range between Rs. 70–Rs. 100 per trip. With the annual pass, the effective cost drops to Rs. 15–Rs. 20 per crossing, translating to potential savings of over Rs. 7,000 per year for regular long-distance drivers. Who cannot get the FASTag pass? If your FASTag is registered using only the chassis number, you can't get the pass. You'll first need to update it with your Vehicle Registration Number (VRN). Your mobile number must also be up to date. Can the annual pass be transferred to another vehicle? No. The pass is linked to one specific vehicle, and transferring it could get it blacklisted.
