To crack down on drivers who intentionally avoid placing their FASTag on the front windscreen, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced that such drivers will face double toll rates. This directive aims to mitigate delays caused by such practices at toll plazas, ensuring a smoother experience for all highway users, according to a PTI report.
According to NHAI, failure to properly affix the FASTag causes unnecessary congestion at toll booths, leading to frustration among other drivers. As part of the new measures, standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been disseminated to all toll collection agencies and concessionaires, which mandate double pricing for vehicles not having the FASTag affixed on the inside of the front windscreen.
To raise awareness, the NHAI has ordered that clear signboards be installed at all toll plazas, informing drivers of penalties for non-compliance. In addition, toll plazas will use surveillance cameras to record vehicle registration numbers (VRNs) that do not have FASTags affixed. These images will be used to maintain accurate records of tolls collected and the presence of such vehicles in the toll lanes.
The NHAI reiterated that existing rules already require FASTags to be affixed to the inside of the front windscreen of the designated vehicle. Vehicles that fail to comply with this requirement will not only have to pay double the toll rate but also risk being blacklisted for electronic toll collection (ETC) transactions.
In addition, issuing banks have been instructed to ensure that FASTags are properly affixed to vehicles at the time of issuance at Point of Sale (POS).
Amit Lakhotia, Founder and CEO of Park+, one of the largest FASTag distributors in India, said, “FASTags are an essential element in ensuring that our roads are smarter and safer for all car owners. The new guidelines are a necessary step in the right direction. Car owners and toll plaza workers will benefit immensely from this move, which will ensure smoother flow of traffic and reduce inconvenience for all stakeholders.”
In other developments, NHAI plans to integrate GNSS-based toll collection in India, initially along with the current FASTag framework, using a hybrid model combining RFID and GNSS-based toll collection.
Satellite-based tolling, or GNSS, technology uses virtual toll booths installed on highways that communicate with satellites to track the location of vehicles and calculate the distances traveled for toll deduction. This system eliminates the need for physical toll booths, creating virtual toll booths along highways and allowing for seamless travel.
According to NHAI, failure to properly affix the FASTag causes unnecessary congestion at toll booths, leading to frustration among other drivers. As part of the new measures, standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been disseminated to all toll collection agencies and concessionaires, which mandate double pricing for vehicles not having the FASTag affixed on the inside of the front windscreen.
To raise awareness, the NHAI has ordered that clear signboards be installed at all toll plazas, informing drivers of penalties for non-compliance. In addition, toll plazas will use surveillance cameras to record vehicle registration numbers (VRNs) that do not have FASTags affixed. These images will be used to maintain accurate records of tolls collected and the presence of such vehicles in the toll lanes.
The NHAI reiterated that existing rules already require FASTags to be affixed to the inside of the front windscreen of the designated vehicle. Vehicles that fail to comply with this requirement will not only have to pay double the toll rate but also risk being blacklisted for electronic toll collection (ETC) transactions.
In addition, issuing banks have been instructed to ensure that FASTags are properly affixed to vehicles at the time of issuance at Point of Sale (POS).
Amit Lakhotia, Founder and CEO of Park+, one of the largest FASTag distributors in India, said, “FASTags are an essential element in ensuring that our roads are smarter and safer for all car owners. The new guidelines are a necessary step in the right direction. Car owners and toll plaza workers will benefit immensely from this move, which will ensure smoother flow of traffic and reduce inconvenience for all stakeholders.”
In other developments, NHAI plans to integrate GNSS-based toll collection in India, initially along with the current FASTag framework, using a hybrid model combining RFID and GNSS-based toll collection.
Satellite-based tolling, or GNSS, technology uses virtual toll booths installed on highways that communicate with satellites to track the location of vehicles and calculate the distances traveled for toll deduction. This system eliminates the need for physical toll booths, creating virtual toll booths along highways and allowing for seamless travel.
