NHAI Tightens Policy to Crack Down on ‘Loose FASTags’ for Smoother Toll Operations

New Delhi: In a move aimed at strengthening the efficiency and reliability of Electronic Toll Collection across India’s national highways, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has further streamlined its policy to curb the misuse of “loose FASTags”—commonly referred to as “tag-in-hand”. The updated directive mandates Toll Collecting Agencies and Concessionaires to immediately report such cases for prompt blacklisting and enforcement action.

The decision comes at a time when NHAI is preparing to roll out major initiatives such as the Annual Pass System and Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling. Ensuring the authenticity and proper usage of FASTags is considered essential for the success of these advancements.

Despite FASTag penetration exceeding 98 percent, a small but disruptive number of vehicle owners continue to avoid affixing the tags on their windshields. Instead, they keep them loose and manually present them at toll booths. This practice not only causes lane congestion and delays but also generates false chargebacks, facilitates misuse in closed-loop tolling systems, and undermines the reliability of the overall toll collection framework.

To combat this issue, NHAI has established a dedicated email ID through which Toll Collection Agencies can report instances of loose FASTag use. Upon receiving such reports, NHAI will initiate immediate steps to blacklist or hotlist the identified FASTags.

This crackdown is part of NHAI’s broader efforts to ensure seamless tolling and enhance the commuting experience for highway users. Officials said the updated policy reflects the Authority’s commitment to maintaining a robust and tamper-proof tolling ecosystem that prioritizes operational integrity and user convenience.