• To deter National Highway users from deliberately not fixing FASTag on the windscreen of the vehicle, NHAI has issued guidelines to collect double user fee from such users entering the toll lane with non-affixed FASTag on the front windshield from the inside.

• NHAI said deliberate non-affixation of FASTag on the windscreen leads to unnecessary delays at the toll plazas causing inconvenience to fellow National Highway users.

• In addition, the statement said 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 record regarding the fee charged and presence of the vehicle in the toll lane.

What is FASTag?

• FASTag is a prepaid tag affixed on a vehicle’s windscreen, which enables automatic deduction of toll charges and lets the vehicle pass through the toll plaza without stopping for the cash transaction. 

• In order to save fuel, time and pollution and to ensure seamless movement of traffic, the government launched the National Electronic Toll Collection programme.

• FASTag employs Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for making toll payments directly from the prepaid account linked to it. 

• FASTag has a validity of five years and after purchasing it, the driver needs to recharge/topup the FASTag as per the requirement.

• The National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) is the Central Clearing House (CCH). There are 38 banks (including Public and Private sector banks) engaged as issuer banks for FASTag issuance to road users and 14 acquirer banks to process the transactions at fee plazas.

• With a penetration rate of around 98 per cent and over 8 crore users, FASTag has revolutionised the electronic toll collection system in the country.

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