&w=3840&q=100)
Annual FASTag pass of ₹3,000 for private vehicles goes live from Aug 15
Ahead of the roll out, the government has opened the pre-booking window for FASTag-based annual passes that allow users to cross up to 200 highway toll booths on a single recharge of Rs 3,000 within a year.
A dedicated link for activation of the annual pass is available on the Rajmarg Yatra app.
The link would also be available on the official websites of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
The annual pass will be applicable only for non-commercial private vehicles such as cars, jeeps, and vans. It will allow seamless travel across National Highways without the need for repeated recharging of FASTag cards for toll payments.
In closed tolling highways such as Delhi-Mumbai Expressway - where toll collection occurs exclusively at exit points - a single trip includes both entry and exit points. On the other hand, on open tolling routes like Delhi-Chandigarh, each toll plaza crossing would constitute a separate trip.
The pass can be recharged again once the 200-trip limit in a year is reached.
According to the MoRTH, those who already have a FASTag on their vehicles will not need to purchase a new FASTag.
The annual pass will be valid only at National Highway (NH) and National Expressway (NE) fee plazas.
At fee plazas on Expressways, State Highways (SH) managed by state governments or local bodies, the FASTag will operate as a regular one, and applicable user fee charges may apply.
FASTag - the electronic toll collection system - uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to automatically deduct toll charges from a prepaid account linked to the vehicle. Over 10.1 crore FASTags were issued till December 1, 2024, according to the road transport ministry's 2024 year-end review.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
‘I wasn't supposed to feel gareeb in India': Dubai vlogger left shocked after Rs 1,000 chai in Mumbai
A Dubai-based Indian travel vlogger has gone viral for something most NRIs can relate to — the shock of returning home and finding India anything but 'cheap.' Parikshit Balochi, a radio presenter and content creator, recently posted a candid Instagram video about how the cost of living back home has left him stunned. His witty yet exasperated rant, especially about a cup of tea that set him back Rs 1,000, has already crossed half a million his video, Balochi confessed that earning in dirhams always gave him the impression that India would be his playground for carefree spending. 'I am an NRI, I was not supposed to feel gareeb (poor) in India,' he said, sounding equal parts amused and frustrated. But instead of feeling wealthy, the inflated bills in Mumbai hotels and cafés have made him rethink the entire NRI privilege. Nothing captured his disbelief better than the price of a humble cup of tea. 'Rs 1,000 is what we used to put on the stock market when I left India. What is happening?' he explained that the unspoken 'deal' NRIs had with India was simple — come home, convert dirhams to rupees, and live like royalty. He said that converting dirhams into rupees was supposed to make him feel richer, not leave him shocked. Instead of showing off his wealth, he now jokes that he might actually need flexible payment plans just to survive the a mix of satire and genuine worry, Balochi ended his rant by pointing out how much money locals must be managing to spend daily. 'Yahan pe logon se puch raha hun, kitna paisa hai bhai tumhare paas,' he said, marvelling at how residents navigate this reality.


Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Yes, It Pays to Share a Home With Family. But Plan for Some Challenges, Too.
Whether it is college graduates taking over the basement because they can't afford to buy or rent, or grandparents seeking the security of family as they age in place, multigenerational households in the U.S. have skyrocketed. According to the Pew Research Center, between 1971 and 2021, the last year for which these statistics are available, the number of people living in multigenerational households quadrupled. The trend is driven by financial issues, the need for caregiving for both children and older adults, and delays in new household formation by young adults. Yes, It Pays to Share a Home With Family. But Plan for Some Challenges, Too. But despite the benefits of communal living, there are challenges as well. Twenty-three percent of adults in multigenerational households say it is stressful all or most of the time, and 40% admit it is stressful some of the time, according to Pew. That is why flexible floor plans that enhance privacy, a healthy respect for boundaries and candid discussions upfront among family members are key to the success of any multigenerational arrangement. Darlene Gibson, 56, and her husband, Jim Gibson, 58, have been sharing their 2,600-square-foot home in Goodyear, Ariz., with Jim's mom, Cheryl, since they purchased it for $422,490 in 2021. Before moving in, Cheryl, 79, was living on her own in rural Virginia, where she was isolated and dependent on others to get around. Today, the family is living together in a style of home that is becoming more popular as multigenerational living becomes more common. Miami-based Lennar has sold its Next Gen home design since 2011, according to Alan Jones, the company's division president in Tempe, Ariz. These models include an attached private suite with a separate entrance, kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom and laundry facilities. 'We call it two homes in one,' Jones said. 'A person can live in this space completely independent from the other family.' Jones said that Next Gen homes make up 25% of the company's sales in the Phoenix market and that while prices vary by market and model, the price of a typical 3,000-square-foot Next Gen home is approximately $15,000 more than a similarly sized home without the multigenerational features. But Lennar isn't the only builder offering floor plans designed for multigenerational living. Many homes sold by Fort Washington, Pa.-based Toll Brothers can be customized for multigenerational living as well. In addition, many existing homes are suitable for multiple generations. According to nationally, about 3.8% of homes listed between Jan. 1 and June 21 advertised an additional dwelling unit, in-law suite or casita in the listing description, and homes featuring one of these additional dwelling units had median listing prices 20.6% higher than the market median. (News Corp, owner of The Wall Street Journal, also operates Cheryl Gibson now has the equivalent of her own apartment, where she bakes and gets together with friends. She's lost weight because she's active in the community, using the clubhouse for bingo and craft night. When she needs to go to a doctor's appointment, Darlene and Jim are there to support her. But the arrangement only works, Darlene said, because of mutual respect. Except for emergencies, no one enters the other party's living quarters without knocking first and being invited inside. The arrangement also gives the couple peace of mind, knowing they are just a few steps away in case Cheryl has a health issue or needs assistance. If you're planning to share your home with relatives of different generations, here are some things to consider. Agree on all financial and legal details up front. Hillery Dorner, a real-estate attorney with Dorner Law & Title Services in Concord, Mass., suggests that the parties outline everyone's expectations, responsibilities and financial obligations in a written cohabitation agreement. The agreement should include an exit strategy to lay out what happens if one of the parties dies, gets divorced, needs to move to assisted living or just wants to leave the shared home. If title to the property is held by all parties jointly, that exit strategy should include a method of valuing the home in case one party wants to buy the other out, according to Zachary D. Schorr, a real-estate attorney in Los Angeles. Plan to revisit the agreement every year or so to update it to reflect changing finances and needs. Decide whose names go on the deed. If you need your parents' help to qualify for a mortgage, it is likely the lender will require them to be on the deed and mortgage. Decide whether you want to own the property as joint tenants with right of survivorship, where the surviving party automatically owns the entirety of the property if the other owner dies, or tenants in common, where a deceased owner's share goes to his or her heirs, which could possibly leaving the survivor as a co-owner with strangers. Schorr said that holding title in the name of a trust is a good option as well, assuming the lender will allow it. 'With a trust, there would be a mechanism for who gets what if someone dies or wants out,' he said. Create an emergency fund. Donna Butts, senior fellow at Generations United, a nonprofit that advocates for intergenerational programs and multigenerational living, suggests that families create an emergency fund, to which everyone contributes, to cover unexpected repairs. That fund could also be used to modify the home to allow older adults to age in place or to childproof the home for young children. 'Updating a home for one generation can positively impact multiple generations,' she said. 'That front-loading washer makes it easier not just for older adults but for children who want to help. Accessibility enhances everyone's ability to enjoy the home they share.'


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Festive season & monsoon spike vegetable prices
Panaji: Prices of vegetables in Goa have been witnessing a gradual rise over the last couple of weeks amid an increase in demand due to the Hindu holy month of Shravan and the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Prices have also been affected due to quality deterioration of produce during storage and transportation in the monsoon. Tomatoes have seen a rise from Rs 40 to Rs 50 per kg, while onion prices have also spiked from Rs 30 to Rs 40 per kg. Potato rates have also increased from Rs 30 to Rs 40 per kg. As the festival approaches, the prices are expected to increase further. Burhanuddin Mulia, a vegetable vendor at the Panaji municipal market, said prices fluctuate frequently due to the rainy season and the demand for the vegetables. 'The price of tomatoes was Rs 80 last month. It was Rs 40 two weeks ago, and now, it has risen to Rs 50. It really depends on the quality we get and the demand,' said Mulia. A major part of Goa's vegetable demand is met by supply coming in from Belagavi. But due to various reasons such as the cost of cultivation, the prices of locally grown vegetables have also risen. Three small locally grown ridged gourds, or a similar quantity of bitter gourds, are now sold for Rs 100. Mohammad Haris, a vegetable vendor at Panaji, said customers are not happy with the quality of vegetables. 'And with the price hike, it doesn't justify the amount they are paying,' he said. Consumers said that for leafy vegetables like methi, raddish, coriander, etc, the prices may not seem to have been hiked, but the size of the bunches has significantly reduced. The state horticulture corporation, on its part, has said that it is supplying vegetables at subsidised rates, but the number of its stalls may fall short of the demand. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Satyender Chaudhary, a customer from Mala, said that high prices often lead him to buy vegetables in decreased quantities. 'The prices are always high. Even if it reduces by Rs 10, we still end up paying more for the quantity of vegetables we used to pay for before. It is unfair,' said a customer from Taleigao.