National Payments Corporation of India and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways have rolled out stricter guidelines and updates for FASTag. The new rules include penalties, updates in the Chargeback process and even a cooling period, which comes into effect from February 17, 2025. The aim is to provide an efficient and stress-free experience at the toll booths. Here are the three changes that you need to know.
Blacklisted tags
The Fastag can be blacklisted based on low balance, incomplete or unverified KYC documentation or errors in vehicle registration. In the case of an inactive Fastag, the user will be charged double the toll fees. If it is scanned within 10 minutes at the toll booth then the user can request for a penalty refund. Keep in mind that Fastag remains inactive for more than an hour, hence, it will be rejected at the toll booth.
Chargebacks
Based on the new rules, banks can only raise chargeback requests after 15 days. Chargebacks can be applied due to transaction errors, low balance or blacklisted tags. If the banks file a chargeback before 15 days of the cooling-off period then it will be rejected.
Delayed transaction
Under the new National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) norms, if a transaction takes more than 15 minutes after the FASTag is scanned at the toll booth, the user will face a penalty. In cases where a transaction is successful despite a low balance on the FASTag due to a glitch, the toll booth will be held liable.
FASTag mandatory
According to the National Highways Authority of India’s guidelines, it is mandatory for a vehicle to affix the FASTag on the vehicle’s windshield. The absence of FASTag will result in booth operators charging double the toll fee. In February 2021, the Union Ministry of Road Transport of Highways (MoRTH) made it mandatory that the RFID-enabled barcode sticker be clearly visible on the front windscreen.