The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has issued guidelines under which those National Highway users who do not have the FASTag stuck on their windscreen from the inside will be charged double the toll.
Deliberate non-affixation of FASTag on the windscreen leads to unnecessary delays at the toll plazas causing inconvenience to the fellow National Highway users. Intentionally not affixing a FASTag on the windscreen causes unnecessary delays at toll plazas, leading to inconvenience for other National Highway users.
The Detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) have been issued to all User Fee Collection Agencies and Concessionaires, mandating a double user fee charge for vehicles without a FASTag affixed to the front windshield. Additionally, the information regarding the double charge will be displayed prominently at all User Fee plazas, informing highway users about the penalties for entering a toll lane without a FASTag affixed to the front windshield.
CCTV to check for non-affixed FASTag
Besides the prominently displayed information, CCTV footage capturing the Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) will be recorded at the fee plaza for cases involving non-affixed FASTags. This will ensure accurate record-keeping of the fee charged and the vehicle’s presence in the toll lane.
In a press release, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways said that iIn accordance with established rules, NHAI aims to enforce standard procedures for affixing FASTags on the front windshield of the assigned vehicle from inside.
FASTags that are not properly affixed according to these standards will not be eligible for Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) transactions at User Fee Plazas and will incur a double toll fee. Additionally, such vehicles may be blacklisted. Issuer banks have been directed to ensure that FASTags are affixed to the front windshield of the assigned vehicle at the time of issuance at various Point-of-Sale (POS).