NHAI's New Policy Against 'Loose FASTags'

In an effort to enhance toll plaza efficiency and prepare for future digital tolling advancements, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced a stricter policy targeting users of 'loose FASTags'. These are tags not properly affixed to vehicle windscreens, leading to various operational issues.

Why This Move Is Crucial

The NHAI emphasizes the importance of this initiative for maintaining the authenticity of FASTags and the integrity of the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system. This is particularly relevant with the upcoming introduction of annual passes and multi-lane free flow (MLFF) tolling.

Immediate Actions and Reporting

The authority has streamlined the process for toll collecting agencies to report and blacklist such 'tag-in-hand' users promptly. A dedicated email ID has been provided for reporting violations, ensuring swift corrective measures, including blacklisting or hotlisting of the reported FASTags.

Broader Implications

This policy is part of NHAI's comprehensive strategy to ensure the reliability of the tolling system and enhance user convenience on national highways, addressing issues like false chargebacks, system misuse, and unnecessary delays for compliant users.