FASTag Misuse: NHAI implements system to report and blacklist ‘Tag-in-Hand’

This step has been taken to maintain the transparency and reliability of the electronic toll collection system.

New Delhi: The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has taken a major step to stop the misuse of FASTag. Now a system has been implemented to immediately report and blacklist 'loose Fastag' i.e. the tag which is not mounted on the windscreen of the vehicle but is kept in the hand (which is commonly called "tag-in-hand"), reports Dynamite News correspondent.

This step has been taken to maintain the transparency and reliability of the electronic toll collection system.

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Why Is Step Necessary?

The government has recently announced new initiatives like Annual Pass System and Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling. The success of all these depends on the correct use of Fastag. When vehicle owners deliberately do not put Fastag on the vehicle, it leads to long queues at the toll plaza, wrong payments are recorded, and misuse of tags in the closed system. This also affects other passengers, causing them unnecessary delay and inconvenience.

NHAI Direction

NHAI has directed all toll collection agencies and concessionaires to report loose fastag immediately. A special email ID has also been provided for this. As soon as the report is received, such tags will be blacklisted or hotlisted. This will enable quick action against those who do wrong.

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Success Of FASTag

Today more than 98 percent of vehicles in the country are connected to the FASTag system, due to which toll collection has become digital and faster. But actions like 'loose tag' can destabilize the entire system. In such a situation, this new system will make toll operations more effective, transparent and easy for passengers.

Relief In Toll Rates

Recently the government has reduced toll rates by up to 50 percent on some national highway sections. This includes bridges, tunnels, flyovers and elevated roads. Apart from that a new formula for toll calculation has been implemented by amending the 'National Highway Fee Rules, 2008'. This will reduce the travel expenses of common people and make travelling by road more accessible.