Got A FASTag? You Might Still End Up Paying Double Toll Tax As Penalty

The FASTag has been made mandatory and the absence of which gets you a penalty of paying double the toll tax in cash. Now, even if you have a FASTag, you might still end up paying double toll tax as a fine for failing to adhere to a crucial new guideline that is easy to miss. Read on to find out how you can save yourself from this new hiccup, but before that, make sure to join our 91Wheels Whatsapp Channel to get all the latest news from the automotive space.

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FASTag Not Fixed On The Windshield Will Get You Fined: Read What New Mandate Reads

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced a new policy requiring double toll fees for vehicles that do not have FASTag affixed on their front windshields from the inside. This measure aims to discourage drivers from carrying FASTags in their wallets or hands while traveling on certain highways. NHAI emphasized that such behavior causes unnecessary delays at toll plazas and inconvenience to other users of the National Highways. This move also curbs the usage of a single fastag for multiple vehicles, something which is not allowed.

NHAI also stated that drivers who fail to affix FASTags as required may face blacklisting. This information will be prominently displayed at all toll plazas to ensure drivers are aware of the penalties for entering toll lanes without properly affixed FASTags. To enforce compliance, NHAI mentioned that CCTV cameras at fee plazas will record instances where vehicles do not have FASTags affixed, capturing the Vehicle Registration Numbers (VRNs) to maintain accurate records of toll charges and vehicle presence in the toll lanes.

NHAI administers toll collection on national highways according to the National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. Presently, approximately 1,000 toll plazas manage toll operations spanning about 45,000 km of national highways and expressways throughout India. FASTag has played a pivotal role in transforming toll collection across the country, achieving widespread adoption with over eight crore users and a penetration rate nearing 98%.

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GPS-Based Toll Collection To Replace FASTags Soon

The new system aims to implement toll collection seamlessly on the move, eliminating the necessity for dedicated toll plazas. This approach will involve geofencing highways using GPS or RFID technologies to establish virtual geographic boundaries. These boundaries will enable software systems to automatically detect when a mobile device enters or exits the designated area. Initially, this system will undergo pilot testing on select highway segments before being scaled nationwide.