Mumbai: Bombay HC Backs FASTag Mandate, Rejects Petition Against Digital Toll Payments
Mumbai, 15th March 2025: The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has made FASTag or E-Tag mandatory at all toll plazas starting April 1. Commuters will be required to pay toll charges digitally, and those failing to do so will have to pay double the amount using cash, cards, or UPI. This decision aims to streamline toll operations and minimize delays.
A public notice has been issued reinforcing the mandate for FASTag payments. “The move is intended to enhance efficiency at toll booths and eliminate any uncertainty regarding FASTag usage,” an MSRDC official stated. The decision aligns with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) policies and the directives of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Additionally, a government resolution has been passed to formalize the shift to digital transactions.
MSRDC manages five key Mumbai entry points—Mulund West, Mulund East, Airoli, Dahisar, and Vashi—where school buses, light motor vehicles, and State Transport buses are exempt from toll payments. Other toll plazas under MSRDC’s jurisdiction include the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Old Mumbai-Pune Highway, Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway, Bandra-Worli Sea Link, and various road development projects in Solapur, Nagpur, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, among others.
To avoid paying double, commuters on these routes must use FASTag for toll payments, as reported by media sources.
The decision follows the Bombay High Court’s dismissal of a petition challenging the FASTag mandate. The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) argued that adopting this digital payment system would be difficult for many Indian commuters. However, Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Bharati Dangre ruled that the requirement was neither arbitrary nor in violation of fundamental rights, declining to interfere with the policy decision.
