NHAI tightens rules to curb misuse of ‘loose FASTags’ for smoother toll operations

New Delhi, Jul 11: In a move to enhance the efficiency of toll collection and curb misuse of Electronic Toll Collection systems, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced stricter measures to address the issue of ‘loose FASTags’ — commonly referred to as “tag-in-hand” FASTags.

These are FASTags that are not affixed to the vehicle’s windscreen as required, but are instead carried in hand by vehicle owners. This practice disrupts tolling operations, leading to false chargebacks, misuse in closed-loop systems, increased congestion at toll lanes, and overall delays that inconvenience other highway users. With upcoming systems like the Annual Pass and Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling under development, NHAI emphasized the need to ensure FASTag authenticity and maintain the integrity of tolling infrastructure.

To tackle the issue, Toll Collecting Agencies and Concessionaires have been directed to immediately report any detected cases of loose FASTags using a dedicated email channel provided by NHAI. Reported tags will be blacklisted or hotlisted promptly to prevent further misuse. NHAI stated that this step is crucial in preserving the efficiency of India’s Electronic Toll Collection system, which has achieved over 98 percent FASTag penetration. The streamlined policy aims to minimize operational challenges and ensure smoother, quicker, and more reliable journeys for users of the National Highway network.