In a decisive move to streamline toll collection and reduce congestion, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced new guidelines mandating double toll charges for vehicles entering toll lanes without a FASTag affixed on the front windshield. This initiative aims to discourage deliberate non-compliance that causes delays and inconveniences for other highway users.
The NHAI has issued comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to all toll collection agencies and concessionaires. These SOPs detail the enforcement of double toll charges for vehicles without properly affixed FASTags. To ensure highway users are well-informed, clear notifications regarding these penalties will be prominently displayed at all toll plazas.
In addition to this measure, toll plazas will record CCTV footage capturing the Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) of non-compliant vehicles. This footage will assist in maintaining accurate records of the fee charged and the presence of such vehicles in the toll lanes.
According to existing regulations, the NHAI is committed to enforcing the proper affixation of FASTags on the front windshield from the inside of the vehicle. Vehicles without correctly affixed FASTags are not eligible for Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) transactions and will be subject to double toll fees and potential blacklisting. Issuer banks have also been instructed to ensure FASTags are properly affixed to vehicles at the time of issuance from various Points of Sale (POS).
NHAI collects tolls on National Highways as per the National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. Currently, tolls are collected for approximately 45,000 km of National Highways and Expressways across around 1,000 toll plazas nationwide.
With a FASTag penetration rate of approximately 98 percent and over 80 million users, this technology has significantly transformed the country’s toll collection system. The new initiative to charge double tolls for non-affixed FASTags is expected to further enhance toll operations, ensuring a more efficient and seamless journey for all National Highway users.
