New Delhi: The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) today said it will charge double toll from vehicles with non-affixed FASTag on the front windshield. The move is to deter National Highway users from deliberately not fixing FASTag on the windscreen of the vehicle. NHAI said it has issued guidelines to collect double user fees from such users entering the toll lane with non-affixed FASTag on the front windshield from the inside. Justifying the move, it argued that deliberate non-affixation of FASTag on the windscreen leads to “unnecessary” delays at the toll plazas causing inconvenience to fellow National Highway users.
A detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been issued to all user fee collection agencies and concessionaires to charge double user fees in case of non-affixation of FASTag on the front windshield. The information will also be prominently displayed at all user fee plazas, informing highway users about the penalties for non-compliance of entering a toll lane without a fixed FASTag on the front windshield.
In addition, Close Circuit Television (CCTV) footage with Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) at the fee plaza shall be recorded of the non-affixed FASTag cases. This will help in maintaining proper records regarding the fee charged and the presence of the vehicle in the toll lane, the NHAI said. It added that it aims to enforce the standard procedural guidelines for affixation of FASTag on the front windshield of the assigned vehicle from inside under already established rules. Any FASTag that is not affixed on the assigned vehicle as per standard process is not entitled to carry out Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) transaction at a User Fee Plaza and will have to pay a double toll fee as well as can be duly blacklisted. Issuer banks have also been directed to ensure the fixation of the FASTag to the assigned vehicle on the front windshield at the time of issuance from various points of sale (POS).
NHAI collects user fees on National Highways as per the National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. At present, user fee is collected for approximately 45,000 km of National Highways and Expressways at around 1,000 Toll Plazas on National Highways across the country.
“With a penetration rate of around 98 per cent and over 8 crore users, FASTag has revolutionized the Electronic Toll Collection system in the country. This initiative of charging double user fees for non-affixation of FASTag will help to make toll operations more efficient and ensure seamless and comfortable journeys for the National Highway users,” the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways stated.
– global bihari bureau
