FASTag Rule Update: Warning! Get ready to pay double toll fee for crossing toll booth without properly fixed FASTag on your car windshield

Crossing a toll booth without a properly fixed FASTag on your vehicle may lead to a penalty equal to the amount of the normally chargeable toll fee. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), responsible for development, maintenance, and management of national highways in the country, has issued a set of guidelines aimed at discouraging highway users from deliberately not fixing FASTag on the windscreen of their vehicles. The authority - which manages the collection of toll fees on national highways either directly or through public-private partnerships (PPP) - will collect double the normal user fee from "users entering the toll lane with non-affixed FASTag on (the) front windshield from the inside", according to an official release. 

Here are key things to know about this big story: 

FASTag Rules | Why the double fee for crossing the toll booth without a properly fixed FASTag on the vehicle?  

"Deliberate non-affixation of FASTag on the windscreen leads to unnecessary delays at the toll plazas", which in turn causes inconvenience to other highway users, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways said in a press release. 

"Charging double user fee from non-affixation of FASTag will help to make toll operations more efficient and ensure seamless & comfortable journey for the National Highway users," it added. 

FASTag Rules | How much penalty in case of failure to cross with a properly-affixed FASTag?

The NHAI - which collects user fee on national highways as per the National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 - has issued the guidelines, known as Detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), to user fee collection agencies and concessionaires across the country to charge double the user fee in case of non-affixation of FASTag on the front windshield.

"The information will also be prominently displayed at all User Fee plazas, informing highway users about the penalties for non-compliance of entering a toll lane without a fixed FASTag on front windshield," it noted. 

FASTag Rules | Can you still get away if you cross the toll booth without meeting the guidelines? 

No. CCTV footage will be recorded at the toll fee plazas capturing details such as the vehicle registration number (VRN) to detect any instances of non-compliance. 

"This will help in maintaining proper record regarding the fee charged and presence of the vehicle in the toll lane," the ministry said.

FASTag Rules | NHAI's answer to unnecessary delays at toll plazas

The highways authority aims to enforce the standard procedural guidelines for affixation of FASTag on the front windshield of the assigned vehicle from inside.

FASTag Rules | What will happen exactly in case you are found to be non-compliant?

"Any FASTag that is not affixed on the assigned vehicle as per standard process is not entitled to carry out Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) transaction at a User Fee Plaza and will have to pay double toll fee as well as can be duly blacklisted... Issuer banks have also been directed to ensure fixation of the FASTag to the assigned vehicle on front windshield at the time of issuance from various Point-of-Sale (POS)," the release added.