The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced new guidelines to impose double toll fee on drivers who enter toll lanes without having a FASTag properly affixed on the windshield of their vehicles. The measure, detailed in guidelines issued on Thursday, aims to discourage national highway users from deliberately avoiding using FASTag, causing unnecessary delays at toll plazas.
NHAI's move to enforce this policy is intended to ensure smoother traffic flow and reduce inconvenience for highway users. “Detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been issued to all user fee collection agencies and agents to collect double user fees in case of failure to install FASTag on the windshield,” the NHAI said.
As part of the new guidelines, information regarding the penalty for non-compliance will be prominently displayed at all toll plazas. NHAI emphasized the enforcement of these rules by noting that "information will also be prominently displayed at all user toll plazas, informing road users of the penalties for failing to enter a toll lane without installing a FASTag on the windshield."
To maintain accurate records, CCTV footage capturing the Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) will be recorded at toll plazas for vehicles not bearing FASTags. These photos will ensure proper documentation of the toll charged and the vehicle's presence in the toll lane.
NHAI has reiterated its commitment to upholding the standard procedural guidelines. “As per the already laid down rules, the NHAI aims to implement standard procedure guidelines for installation of FASTag on the windshield of the designated vehicle from the inside,” the statement said.
Vehicles with improperly affixed FASTags are not permitted to use electronic toll collection (ETC) systems and will face double toll fees, alongside the possibility of being blacklisted. “Any FASTag not installed on the designated vehicle as per the standard process is not entitled to conduct Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) transactions at User Fee Plaza and will have to pay double charges and may also be duly blacklisted,” the statement explained.
Banks issuing FASTags must ensure that the FASTags are properly affixed to vehicles at the point of sale (POS). “Issuing banks have also been directed to ensure that FASTag is affixed to the designated vehicle on the windshield on issuance from various points of sale,” the statement added.
NHAI adheres to the National Highway Tariff (Determination of Tariff and Collection) Rules 2008 regarding collection of tolls on national highways. Currently, toll plazas are collected on nearly 45,000 kilometers of highways and national highways, with about 1,000 toll plazas operating across the country.
With a penetration rate of around 98 percent and over 8 million users, FASTag has significantly improved India's e-toll collection system. NHAI believes that charging double fees on a user for not affixing a FASTag will improve the efficiency of toll collection operations, ensuring convenient and hassle-free travel for national highway users.
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