No FASTag on car windshield? Get ready to pay double toll

To stop users from using the National Highways by consciously deciding not to put a FASTag on their vehicle’s windshield, the NHAI has provided the new rule. As per the new rules, double user fees shall be collected from the vehicles entering the toll lanes without a FASTag affixed on the windscreen on the front inside wherever the fare is collected. The intent behind the move is to put an end to unnecessary delay at toll plazas that causes inconvenience to other highway users.

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NHAI has meanwhile released a detailed Standard Operating Procedure to all User Fee Collection Agencies and Concessionaires to charge double the user fee from the vehicles not having a properly affixed FASTag. Information regarding the penalties will be displayed prominently across all toll plazas to ensure highway users are aware of what awaits them in case of non-compliance.

Further, even in the case of non-affixed FASTags, CCTV camera pictures of the VRN will be taken at the fee plazas for additional proof. It shall, therefore, guarantee a proper account of the fees paid and the vehicle’s presence in the toll lane.

NHAI, in respect of the prevailing legislation, will also ensure rigour in the process procedures for the adherence of installing the FASTag on the front windshield. Vehicles without the FASTag being affixed properly to the assigned vehicle, as per the standard process, will not be considered eligible for Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) transactions at the plaza, for which the fee shall be doubled, and it may further be blacklisted. Issuing banks have been advised to ensure that FASTags are affixed by the issuer at the time of issuance from various Point-of-Sale (POS) locations to the front windshields of vehicles.

The user fees for National Highways are collected by NHAI under the National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. As of now, user fees are collected for around 45,000 km of National Highways and Expressways at about 1,000 toll plazas across the country.

By now, with a penetration of almost 98 per cent and having over 8 crore users, FASTag has completely changed the concept of Electronic Toll Collection in India. Charging double user fees to vehicles without FASTag has been introduced to further optimize toll operations and ensure a seamless and comfortable journey by National Highway users.