Top Automotive Blogs

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has implemented various changes to FASTag rules, impacting vehicle owners who frequently travel on national highways. Effective from February 17, the revised regulations are mainly related to blacklisted FASTags and insufficient balances. Implemented by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the main objective of updated rules is to streamline toll transactions and enhance user convenience.

 

 

Major Changes in FASTag Rules: The updated rules focus on the necessity of maintaining sufficient balance in FASTags. Vehicles with blacklisted FASTags or inadequate funds will now have to pay penalties, including double toll charges. This will help in smooth digital transactions at toll plazas and control disputes between banks handling toll payments.

Although the implementation of new rules might create concerns among highway users, NHAI has assured that commuters' interests will not be affected. The main objective of these changes is to facilitate seamless toll collection and settle technical and financial disputes between acquiring and issuing banks.

 

Impact of the New Rules on Commuters: To avoid penalties, FASTag users must ensure their tags are recharged properly recharged before reaching toll plazas. The new system allows users to top up their FASTags anytime before crossing a toll booth, as all national highway toll plazas provide real-time tag status updates. However, some state highways have yet to implement this protocol, and NHAI is working on updating the system across all highways in India.

 

A notable change in the rules is the implementation of strict rules for blacklisted tags. Any FASTag blacklisted more than an hour before a toll plaza transaction will be declined, and the user will be required to pay double the toll fee. Additionally, users whose tags are blacklisted even 10 minutes before reaching a toll gate may also face penalties. To stop such issues, commuters are given a 70-minute window to recharge their FASTags before arriving at the toll booth.

 

Resolution for Transaction Errors: The new FASTag rules also address concerns regarding incorrect deductions. If a user recharges their FASTag within 10 minutes of a transaction and is fined, they can request a refund. Moving ahead, for wrongly blacklisted or low-balance tags, issuing banks can initiate chargebacks for incorrect deductions after a 15-day period. The system will also monitor transactions that take more than 15 minutes to process post-toll barrier crossing, imposing fines on such cases.

 

The Importance of FASTag Compliance: The use of FASTag on highways was introduced in December 2019, the "One Nation One Tag" FASTag initiative has revolutionized toll collection by promoting a cashless and efficient system. The mandatory use of FASTags for all vehicles has made travelling on highways smoother, improved transparency, and increased revenue collection. The introduction of new rules and strict compliance measures will help in enhancing efficiency and transparency in toll payments. With real-time balance information, and recharging FASTag on-time vehicle owners can protect themselves from penalties and enjoy seamless travel on the highway.