Introduction: 1. Drivers who deliberately do not install Fastag on their windscreen will be charged double by NHAI. 2. To prevent unnecessary delays caused by not installing Fastag, NHAI has issued SOP. 3. Standard guidelines have been issued to make a record of vehicle registration number and charge double fee on vehicles not installing Fastag.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken strict measures to prevent deliberate misuse of Fastag. Now drivers will have to pay double the fee for not installing Fastag on the windscreen of their vehicles.
Double charges apply
NHAI has issued instructions to charge double the fee on drivers who deliberately do not install Fastag on their windscreen. This fine will be applicable on those who enter the toll lane without Fastag.
Preventing delays at toll plazas
NHAI says that deliberate non-installation of Fastag causes unnecessary delays at toll plazas, causing inconvenience to other highway users. To deal with this problem, NHAI has issued detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) to all user fee collection agencies.
Record of Vehicle Registration Number
The Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) will be recorded along with the CCTV footage at the toll plaza. This will help in maintaining a record of the fee collected and the presence of the vehicle in the toll lane.
New Guidelines
NHAI has issued standard guidelines for installing FASTags on the windscreen of vehicles. Any FASTag that is not installed on the specified vehicle will be invalid for electronic toll collection (ETC) transactions and will attract double toll fee. Additionally, such FASTags can also be blacklisted.
Instructions to banks
Banks issuing FASTags have been directed to ensure that at the time of issuing FASTags, they are affixed on the windscreen of the specified vehicles.
Role of NHAI
The NHAI collects user fee on national highways as per the National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. Currently, user fee is collected at around 1,000 toll plazas across the country.
