Paste FASTag at right spot, else NHAI will blacklist it

In a bid to enhance the efficiency and authenticity of electronic toll collection on national highways, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has further strengthened its mechanism for identifying and blacklisting "loose" FASTags, also known as "tag-in-hand", officials said on Friday.

The NHAI has directed all toll collecting agencies and concessionaires to immediately report such loose or improperly fixed FASTags, which are sometimes deliberately not affixed on vehicle windscreens. These loose tags pose serious operational challenges, including lane congestion, false chargebacks, misuse in closed-loop tolling systems and delays for other highway users.

"In view of upcoming initiatives like the annual pass system and multi-lane free flow tolling, it is critical to address the issue to ensure FASTag authenticity and system reliability," an NHAI official said.

To streamline the process, the NHAI has set up a dedicated email identity through which toll collection agencies can report loose FASTags. Upon receiving reports, the authority will take immediate action by blacklisting or hotlisting the flagged FASTags.

According to the officials, with over a 98 per cent penetration rate, FASTag has revolutionised toll collection across India. However, NHAI officials said loose FASTags compromise the system’s integrity and could lead to inconvenience for genuine highway users.

“This initiative will help make toll operations more efficient, ensuring seamless and comfortable journeys for highway users,” the official said.