NHAI Cracks Down on False FASTag Toll Deductions
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken decisive action against incorrect FASTag wallet deductions, targeting approximately 250 instances of erroneous toll collection. These incidents have been a source of frustration for many vehicle owners who receive toll deduction messages despite their vehicles being stationary.
Several factors contribute to these incorrect charges:
Toll operators' errors in vehicle number entry
Unreadable FASTag transponders
Incorrect manual transaction processing
Tags carried in wallets interfering with scanning systems
IHMCL (Indian Highways Management Company Limited) has implemented a robust penalty system:
Rs 1 lakh fine per violation
70% reduction in false deduction incidents
Approximately 50 legitimate complaints received monthly
Over 30 crore FASTag transactions processed across national highways
Customers facing false deductions have multiple channels for complaint resolution:
Helpline: Call 1033
Email: falsededuction@ihmcl.com
A senior IHMCL official stated that each complaint undergoes thorough investigation. If a false deduction is confirmed:
Immediate chargeback to the customer
Rs 1 lakh penalty imposed on the responsible toll operator
FASTag, attached to the vehicle's windscreen is a prepaid RFID-enabled electronic tag that:
Enables vehicle passage through toll gates without stopping
Automatically deducts toll fees from a prepaid account
Communicates with toll plaza scanning equipment
The NHAI's mandatory FASTag implementation has transformed toll collection by:
Reducing queue times
Decreasing fuel consumption
Minimizing person-to-person contact at toll booths
Enhancing overall transaction efficiency
The stringent measures demonstrate NHAI's commitment to improving electronic toll collection systems, protecting consumer interests, and leveraging technology to create a more streamlined, transparent transportation infrastructure.
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