In a major boost for daily highway commuters, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is set to roll out the FASTag Annual Pass starting August 15, 2025. This new initiative is aimed at making travel more convenient and economical for frequent travelers on India's National Highways and Expressways.

What is the FASTag Annual Pass?

The FASTag Annual Pass is priced at Rs 3,000 and offers 200 toll-free trips or one year of validity—whichever comes first. This pass is available exclusively for private non-commercial vehicles like cars, jeeps, and vans. Once the pass is activated, users will be able to travel seamlessly at designated National Highway (NH) and National Expressway (NE) toll plazas without being charged per trip.

How to Activate It?

The pass can be activated only through the Rajmargyatra mobile app or the official NHAI website. Activation will be granted post vehicle eligibility verification through the VAHAN database. Once verified, users must pay Rs 3,000 for the base year 2025–26. After successful payment, the annual pass is linked to the registered FASTag and becomes active within 2 hours.

Key Rules & Validity

• The pass is valid for 12 months or 200 transactions, whichever is earlier.

• It is not valid at toll plazas on state highways, expressways operated by local bodies, or parking lots. At such places, the FASTag will behave like a regular tag, and normal user fees will apply.

• If used in a commercial vehicle, the pass will be deactivated immediately without any notice.

Understanding Trip Count

• Point-based plazas: Each pass through the plaza counts as one trip; round-trips count as two.

• Closed tolling system (with entry & exit): One entry-exit pair counts as a single trip.

Who is Eligible?

Only private, non-commercial vehicles—cars, jeeps, and vans—are eligible for this annual pass. The eligibility will be validated against the VAHAN vehicle registration database.

In short, this new move will be a big relief for daily highway commuters, offering cost savings, ease of travel, and fewer payment stops. So if you’re a frequent traveler, get your FASTag Annual Pass activated before hitting the road this Independence Day!

Vietjet Thailand is expanding its India–Thailand network with the introduction of two new direct flights from Kolkata and Ahmedabad to Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi Airport). This move strengthens the airline’s growing presence in India while offering travellers even more access to Thailand’s vibrant capital—at prices starting from just ₹1 (base fare).

The Kolkata–Bangkok route is set to take off on November 17, 2025, and marks Vietjet Thailand’s first-ever connection from Kolkata. Flights will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, with VZ771 departing Kolkata at 00:20 and landing in Bangkok at 04:25. The return flight, VZ770, will leave Bangkok at 21:55 and reach Kolkata at 23:20.

Soon after, Vietjet will launch its Ahmedabad–Bangkok route on December 4, 2025. This will also operate four times a week on the same days. Flight VZ751 departs Ahmedabad at 23:55 and lands in Bangkok at 05:35 the next morning. The return leg, VZ750, departs Bangkok at 19:40 and arrives in Ahmedabad at 22:55.

To celebrate the launch, Vietjet is rolling out a special promotional fare—“Takeoff to Bangkok from ₹1” (excluding taxes and fees). The offer is open for booking from July 31 to August 5, 2025, for travel between:

• November 17, 2025 – March 28, 2026 (Kolkata route)
  
  

• December 4, 2025 – March 28, 2026 (Ahmedabad route)
  
  

Bookings can be made at www.vietjetair.com or via the Vietjet mobile app.

Bangkok continues to be a favourite destination for Indian travellers, known for its cultural landmarks, food scene, bustling markets, and nightlife. Whether you’re exploring the Grand Palace, shopping at Chatuchak Market, or enjoying coastal escapes in Pattaya, there’s something for everyone.

Passengers can also take advantage of Vietjet Thailand’s domestic network to connect to popular Thai cities like Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai, and more.

"The launch of these new services from Kolkata and Ahmedabad to Bangkok reaffirms our continued investment & development in the Indian market," said Woranate Laprabang, CEO of Vietjet Thailand. “We’re proud to offer greater convenience, exceptional value, and a safe, friendly flying experience as we expand our network across key destinations in the region”.

The airline has recently received accolades such as "Best Low-Cost Airline Brand – Thailand 2025" by Global Brand Awards and "Most Passenger-Friendly Cabin Crew – 2025" by International Finance Magazine, highlighting its commitment to service and affordability.

Seats are limited—so act fast if you want to be among the first to fly these new routes.

India’s premier B2B travel networking event, India International Travel Mart (IITM), completed impactful editions in Chennai (16–18 July) and Bangalore (24–26 July) 2025, reinforcing its reputation as South India’s biggest travel exhibition and a catalyst for domestic and international tourism promotion.

Now in its 26th year in these cities, IITM brought together a diverse mix of tourism boards, DMCs, hotel groups, airlines, travel startups, and technology platforms. Over three days at each venue, the exhibitions enabled immersive trade engagement, destination showcases, and high-value networking opportunities.

High-Profile Participation

The Chennai edition, hosted at Chennai Trade Centre, was inaugurated by Thiru T. Christuraj, Director of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu. Dignitaries included:

• Sri Venkatesan D, Regional Director, India Tourism

• Smt. T. Devaki, Chairperson, Travel Agents Association of India

• Sri Kamaleshwaran, President, SKAL International, Chennai

• Sri Pankaj Ravish, General Manager, IRCTC

• Sri Pawan Kumar Gupta, Vice President, SIMA

• Sri Ashok Kumar P, Chairman, ADTOI

The Bangalore edition, held at Tripura Vasini, Palace Grounds, was inaugurated by Shri Pasang Dorjee Sona, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Arunachal Pradesh. Guests of Honor included:

• Sri Neelu Sharma, Chairman, Chhattisgarh Tourism

• Sri Ranphoa Ngowa, Secretary Tourism, Arunachal Pradesh

• Sri Vivek Acharya, MD, Chhattisgarh Tourism

• Mr. Hishamuddin Mustafa, Director, Tourism Malaysia Chennai

• Sri Biswajit Routray, Additional Director, Odisha Tourism

• Sri Dinesh Kumar, Joint Director, UP Tourism

• Sri Lokesh Bettaiah, VP, TAAI

• Sri Niranjan Bhargava, Chairman, TAAI

• Mr. M. Vinod, President, AATO

• Mr. Kaulesh Kumar, General Secretary, ABTO

• Mr. Amish Desai, MC Member, TAAI

Industry Leaders Weigh In

Mr. Sanjay Hakhu, Director, Sphere Travelmedia & Exhibitions, said:

“Both editions exceeded expectations in terms of participation, partnerships, and buyer engagement. The enthusiasm from India’s domestic and outbound tourism stakeholders is encouraging as we push toward broader industry resurgence.”

Mr. Rohit Hangal, Director, Sphere Travelmedia & Exhibitions, added:

“Chennai and Bangalore remain integral to India’s tourism landscape. The enthusiasm, scale, and trade engagement at IITM reaffirm its role as a strategic B2B platform.”

By the Numbers

• 25+ Indian states represented

• 20+ international tourism boards

• 800+ exhibitors

• Thousands of B2B meetings and interactions across both cities

Why IITM Matters

For over 20 years, IITM has built a legacy as one of India’s most credible and business-focused travel trade shows. It uniquely connects travel products with decision-makers through:

• Dedicated B2B focus

• Themed pavilions: luxury travel, tech, sustainable tourism

• Launchpad for destinations and services

• South India’s largest travel trade shows

What’s Next?

Following Chennai and Bangalore, the upcoming editions of IITM promise more robust business opportunities:

• Delhi: 24 – 26 September 2025

• Mumbai: 9 – 11 October 2025

• Pune: 27 – 29 November 2025

• Hyderabad: 4 – 6 December 2025

• Kochi: 8 – 10 January 2026

• Kolkata: 12 – 14 February 2026

• Ahmedabad: 12 – 14 March 2026

With an unwavering commitment to connect, collaborate, and catalyze tourism growth, IITM remains the gold standard for India’s travel trade engagement.

For more information, contact: +91 8040834100
Email: media@spheretravelmedia.com