Latest news with #ElectronicTollCollection
NDTV
6 days ago
- Automotive
- NDTV
Your FASTag Could Be Blacklisted Soon, New Rule Will Hit Drivers Hard
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has strengthened its policy to report and blacklist "loose FASTags", not affixed to the vehicle's windscreen; these tags are also known as "tag-in-hand" to ensure smooth tolling operations and authenticity of the Electronic Toll Collection system. This move aims to address operational challenges caused by vehicle owners deliberately not fixing FASTags to their windscreens, leading to lane congestion, false chargebacks, and misuse in closed-loop tolling systems. Why NHAI Took This Decision NHAI's move comes ahead of the rollout of new systems like the Annual Pass and Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling. NHAI took this strict decision to prevent disruptions in the Electronic Toll Collection framework, which can result in unnecessary delays at toll plazas and inconvenience to other National Highway users. With the penetration rate of FASTag exceeding 98%, this initiative aims to make toll operations more efficient, ensuring seamless and comfortable journeys for National Highway users. Process for FASTag Blacklisting According to a statement by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, to ensure timely corrective measures, NHAI has provided a dedicated email ID and has directed the Toll Collection Agencies and Concessionaires to immediately report such FASTags. Based on the reports received, NHAI will take immediate action to initiate blacklisting/hotlisting of the reported FASTags. Impact on Vehicle Owners While this initiative may require vehicle owners to be more vigilant about FASTag usage, it's unlikely to increase problems for compliant users. In fact, it should lead to a better experience for all National Highway users by reducing delays and congestion at toll plazas. What Should Common FASTag Users Do? To avoid blacklisting, FASTag users should: Ensure Proper FASTag Installation: Fix the FASTag securely to the vehicle's windscreen. Complete KYC Verification: Update your Know Your Customer (KYC) details with the issuing bank or digital wallet provider. Maintain Sufficient Balance: Keep adequate funds in the FASTag wallet to avoid insufficient balance issues. Monitor FASTag Status: Regularly check for alerts from the bank or FASTag provider. The ministry said in the statement that loose FASTags or "tag-in-hand" pose a challenge to the efficiency of Electronic Toll Collection operations. This initiative will help to make toll operations more efficient, ensuring seamless & comfortable journeys for the National Highway users.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Loose FASTags to be blacklisted by NHAI; know how it will impact vehicle owners
What Are Loose FASTags? Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills What did NHAI say about blacklisting loose FASTags? Why does NHAI want to blacklist loose FASTags? Loose FASTags will be immediately reported by toll operators 'To ensure smooth tolling operations and strengthen reporting of 'Loose FASTags', NHAI has further streamlined its policy for the Toll Collecting Agencies and Concessionaires to immediately report and blacklist 'loose FASTags', that are also commonly called 'tag-in-hand'. Loose FASTags or "tag-in-hand" pose a challenge to the efficiency of Electronic Toll Collection operations. This initiative will help to make toll operations more efficient, ensuring seamless & comfortable journeys for the National Highway users.' Why is identifying loose FASTags challenging in some states? On July 11, 2025, the National Highways Authority of India NHAI ) announced that it has streamlined its policy to allow for the immediate reporting and blacklisting of 'loose FASTags ' more commonly known as 'tag-in-hand'. NHAI explained that this decision came after they observed that some vehicle owners intentionally fail to attach the FASTag s to their vehicles' windscreens , opting instead to hold the tags in their hand in front of the highway toll FASTag camera a press release dated July 11, 2025, NHAI said: 'FASTags are sometimes deliberately not fixed on the windscreen of the vehicle by the owners. Such practices pose operational challenges leading to lane congestion, generation of false chargebacks, misuse in closed loop tolling system, causing overall disruption of the Electronic Toll Collection framework, resulting in unnecessary delays at toll plazas and inconvenience to other National Highway users.'Continue reading to learn more about loose FASTags and their effect on vehicle Agarwal, Partner, Risk Consulting (Infrastructure), EY India, explains: 'Loose FASTags refer to active RFID toll tags (FASTags) that are not affixed to the registered vehicle's windscreen as mandated, but instead are kept unattached — held manually near sensors and are swapped between different category of vehicles. This unauthorized practice not only defeats the core objective of FASTag-enabled tolling but has also led to operational and financial repercussions.'In the press release, it was said that to ensure timely corrective measures, NHAI has provided a dedicated email ID and has directed the Toll Collection Agencies and concessionaires to immediately report such loose FASTags. The NHAI press release said that 'Based on the reports received, NHAI will take immediate action to initiate blacklisting / hotlisting of the reported FASTags'.Anurag Singh, Advisor, Primus Partners, explains: "FastTags are supposed to be mandatorily fixed on the Windshield, and those which are not, are supposed to be immediately blacklisted. However they are sold by small vendors, who may give the tag to customer and many tolling booths look the other way. Fast tags are deliberately kept loose to 'cheat' the system eg. In closed-loop toll models (entry and exit-based billing), users may swap FASTags between vehicles, allowing for toll evasion. Or a truck using a FASTag registered for a car triggers a chargeback or refund request by the bank due to vehicle-class discrepancy."Agarwal from EY India says that loose FASTags disrupt the system and at times even game the system by paying a lower toll says: 'The loose FASTags are swapped between vehicles from different categories i.e. For example, drivers may use FASTags from smaller vehicles or unrelated categories to pay lower tolls leading to toll fraud, resulting in loss of toll revenue for toll collecting company as well as the government (NHAI). Moreover, manual scanning results in lane congestion, defeating the purpose of seamless, automated tolling. Currently, the tolling system does not match the tag to the vehicle's ANPR number plates due to implementation related challenges which still persist in ANPR systems.'Singh says: "Loose FASTags require manual scanning, loose FASTag users are prone to arguments etc. which delays the process and causes lane congestion. For law abiding citizens, it is best practice to put the FASTag on the windscreen. The framework for dealing with 'cheaters' exists, but has a varying level of compliance across different toll booths."NHAI in the press release said:Agarwal from EY India says: 'In the current tolling system, identifying loose FASTags remains a major challenge. Toll plaza scanners only read the tag data - they do not cross check whether the tag is actually affixed to the correct vehicle by matching with its registration number.'Agarwal adds: 'While ANPR ( Automatic Number Plate Recognition ) technology could help verify vehicle identity, it is constrained by ANPR's effective implementation i.e. many vehicles still lack ANPR-compliant number plates or have plates but are not installed at an appropriate location making it unreadable. In states like Maharashtra, for example, ANPR number plates are not even mandatory.'
India Gazette
14-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Siddaramaiah asks Gadkari to reschedule foundation laying ceremony for Shivamogga National Highway project
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], July 14 (ANI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday wrote to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, requesting to reschedule the foundation laying ceremony for the Shivamogga National Highway project, which is scheduled to be held today. He said that he was not consulted before the finalisation of the project's dedication and foundation ceremony on July 14, despite his name being included in the draft invitation card. 'I have not been intimated about this programme in advance, and an inauguration programme of various developmental schemes is already scheduled under my Chairmanship in Indi Taluka, Vijyapura District on the same day,' Siddaramaiah said in a letter. Asking Gadkari to instruct his department to coordinate while organising such events, the CM said that it would have been 'appropriate' for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to have consulted with the Karnataka government before scheduling the state-level programs. 'It would have been more appropriate for MoRTH to have consulted with the State Government before scheduling the State Level programmes. Therefore, I request you to instruct the department to coordinate with the state government while organising such programmes. Also, I request you to postpone this programme and provide me a couple of dates convenient to you, so that I would be able to join you in this significant state-level programme,' the letter read. This comes as the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, along with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), was organising a 'Dedication to Nation and Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony' program on July 14 at Nehru Field in Shimoga district. Earlier, the NHAI further strengthened its policy to immediately report and blacklist 'loose FASTags', commonly known as 'tag-in-hand', to ensure smooth tolling operations, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways said in a release. With the move, the authority has further streamlined its policy for the Toll Collecting Agencies and Concessionaires to immediately report 'loose FASTags'. In view of upcoming initiatives like the Annual Pass System and Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling, it is critical to address this issue to ensure FASTag authenticity and system reliability, the release stated. FASTags are sometimes deliberately not fixed on the windscreen of the vehicle by the owners. Such practices pose operational challenges leading to lane congestion, generation of false chargebacks, misuse in closed loop tolling system, causing overall disruption of the Electronic Toll Collection framework, resulting in unnecessary delays at toll plazas and inconvenience to other National Highway users, it highlighted. To ensure timely corrective measures, NHAI has provided a dedicated email ID and has directed the Toll Collection Agencies and Concessionaires to immediately report such on the reports received, NHAI will take immediate action to initiate blacklisting/hotlisting of the reported FASTags. (ANI)
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
FASTag compliance: NHAI to blacklist ‘loose tag' users; move aims to curb toll fraud and ease congestion
In a bid to improve toll plaza efficiency and prepare for upcoming digital tolling upgrades, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced a stricter policy for blacklisting users of 'loose FASTags'—those not affixed to vehicle windscreens. The NHAI said the move is crucial to ensure the authenticity of FASTags and the integrity of the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system, especially ahead of the rollout of annual passes and multi-lane free flow (MLFF) tolling, PTI reported. 'To ensure smooth tolling operations and strengthen reporting of 'loose FASTags', NHAI has further streamlined its policy for Toll Collecting Agencies and Concessionaires to immediately report and blacklist such tags, also commonly called tag-in-hand,' the agency said in a statement. It noted that some highway users intentionally keep FASTags detached from their vehicles, leading to operational issues including false chargebacks, misuse of closed-loop systems, congestion, and delays for compliant users. To enable swift corrective action, NHAI has provided a dedicated email ID for reporting such violations. 'Based on the reports received, NHAI will take immediate action to initiate blacklisting or hotlisting of the reported FASTags,' it said. The measure is part of NHAI's broader efforts to ensure system reliability and user convenience on national highways. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
India Gazette
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- India Gazette
NHAI strengthens process for reporting 'Loose FASTag' to ensure smooth tolling operations
New Delhi [India], July 11 (ANI): The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has further strengthened its policy to immediately report and blacklist 'loost FASTags', commonly known as 'tag-in-hand' to ensure smooth tolling operations, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways said in a release. With the move, the authority has further streamlined its policy for the Toll Collecting Agencies and Concessionaires to immediately report 'loose FASTags'. In view of upcoming initiatives like the Annual Pass System and Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling, it is critical to address this issue to ensure FASTag authenticity and system reliability, the release stated. FASTags are sometimes deliberately not fixed on the windscreen of the vehicle by the owners. Such practices pose operational challenges leading to lane congestion, generation of false chargebacks, misuse in closed loop tolling system, causing overall disruption of the Electronic Toll Collection framework, resulting in unnecessary delays at toll plazas and inconvenience to other National Highway users, it highlighted. To ensure timely corrective measures, NHAI has provided a dedicated email ID and has directed the Toll Collection Agencies and Concessionaires to immediately report such FASTags. Based on the reports received, NHAI will take immediate action to initiate blacklisting/hotlisting of the reported FASTags. With a penetration rate of over 98 per cent, FASTag has revolutionised the Electronic Toll Collection system in the country. Loose FASTags or 'tag-in-hand' pose a challenge to the efficiency of Electronic Toll Collection operations. This initiative will help to make toll operations more efficient, ensuring seamless and comfortable journeys for the National Highway users, the Ministry stated in the in June, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that the government has decided to introduce a FASTag-based Annual Pass to ensure seamless and cost-effective travel across the country's national highways. The FASTag-based Annual Pass will be priced at Rs 3000 and valid for one year from the date of activation or for a maximum of up to 200 trips. It will be launched on Independence Day this year. (ANI)
