The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has strengthened its mechanism for reporting and blacklisting ‘Loose FASTags’ – commonly referred to as “tag-in-hand” – in a bid to enhance tolling efficiency and ensure the authenticity of FASTag usage.
As India gears up for initiatives like the Annual Pass System and Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling, the move aims to curb misuse and operational disruptions caused by FASTags that are not affixed to vehicle windscreens.
Such practices have led to lane congestion, false chargebacks, and misuse in closed-loop systems, hampering the overall efficiency of the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) network.
To tackle the issue, NHAI has issued instructions to toll collecting agencies and concessionaires to promptly report loose FASTags via a dedicated email ID. Based on these reports, the authority will take swift action to blacklist or hotlist the identified tags.
With a FASTag penetration rate of over 98%, NHAI’s latest move is expected to further streamline toll operations and ensure seamless travel for National Highway users.
