To deter national highway users from deliberately not affixing FASTag on their vehicle windscreens, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued new guidelines. These guidelines mandate collecting double the user fee from defaulters who enter toll lanes without a FASTag, as announced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Thursday.
Why the Double Charge?
The ministry explained that deliberate non-affixation of FASTag on the windscreen leads to unnecessary delays at toll plazas, causing inconvenience to fellow national highway users. To address this, detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been issued to all User Fee Collection Agencies and Concessionaires to enforce the double user fee charge in cases of non-affixation of FASTag.
Implementation and Penalties
The information about these penalties will be prominently displayed at all user fee plazas, informing highway travelers about the consequences of entering a toll lane without a fixed FASTag on the front windshield. Additionally, CCTV footage with the vehicle registration number (VRN) will be recorded at the fee plaza for non-affixed FASTag cases. This will help maintain proper records regarding the fee charged and the presence of the vehicle in the toll lane.
In accordance with established FASTag rules, NHAI aims to enforce the standard procedural guidelines for affixing FASTag on the front windshield of the assigned vehicle from the inside. Any FASTag that is not affixed as per the standard process is not entitled to carry out electronic toll collection (ETC) transactions at a user fee plaza and will have to pay double the toll fee. Such vehicles can also be duly blacklisted.
Role of Issuer Banks
Issuer banks have also been directed to ensure the fixation of the FASTag to the assigned vehicle on the front windshield at the time of issuance from various points of sale (POS). This initiative will help streamline the process and ensure that all vehicles are compliant with the new guidelines.
NHAI's Fee Collection
NHAI collects user fees on national highways as per the National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. Currently, user fees are collected for approximately 45,000 km of national highways and expressways at around 1,000 toll plazas across the country.
FASTag's Impact
With a penetration rate of around 98 percent and over eight crore users, FASTag has revolutionized the electronic toll collection system in India. Officials believe that this initiative of charging double the user fee for non-affixation of FASTag will help make toll operations more efficient and ensure seamless and comfortable journeys for national highway users.
By enforcing these new guidelines, NHAI aims to minimize delays at toll plazas and improve the overall efficiency of toll collection systems, thereby enhancing the travel experience for all highway users.
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