The government has eased FASTag rules for persons with disabilities, extending the validity of exempted FASTags from one year to up to five years. The revised guidelines take effect on October 2, 2026.

Under the new rules issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, vehicles owned by persons with 70 to 100 per cent disability will get FASTags valid for five years. Those with 40 to under 70 per cent disability will get three-year validity. Earlier, the exemption had to be renewed every year.

Applicants will need a UDID card to establish disability status. The exemption applies to one vehicle per beneficiary. Officials said the change was made after representations from disability groups about the burden of annual renewals.

Disability rights advocates welcomed the move, saying it removes a yearly paperwork hurdle for thousands of vehicle owners. The longer validity also reduces the risk of eligible users being wrongly charged at toll plazas during renewal gaps.