18 Lakh Motorists Without FASTags Paid Rs 20 Crore Penalty To NHAI: Find Out Why?

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Sunday, February 23, 2020 said it has collected ?20 crore from 18 lakh defaulters who entered the FASTag lanes at electronic toll plazas on National Highways without the tag.

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Strict Actions Vehicles without FASTag entering FASTag lanes at Toll Plaza!

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways after launching the electronic toll collection programme across the country in December, 2019, had said that double toll charge would be collected from the vehicles entering FASTag lanes without the tag.

NHAI said in a statement, “By giving priority to the existing FASTag users, discourage the defaulters and further encourage implementation of FASTags by national highways commuters, vehicles without FASTags entering the FASTag lane are being charged double the toll fee.”

It further said, “Till now, a total number of 18 lakh vehicles defaulted by encroaching FASTag lanes across India has resulted in a double charge cash toll accumulation of about ?20 crore.” 

Over 1.55 crore FASTags have been issued by the government through multiple Point of Sale (PoS) locations across India. The statement said, NHAI has been observing increased sale rate of FASTags which is a clear indication of this digital system being accepted well.

As a result, FASTag transaction has crossed a landmark count of 40 lakh per day, it added. The FASTag resulted in smooth and hassle-free movement of FASTag users on highways.

The statement also said the adoption of FASTags has brought in much-needed transparency in collection at toll booths.

Recently, NHAI has put off the FASTag cost of ?100 for NHAI FASTag from February 15, 2020 to February 29, 2020 to increase digital collection of user fee via FASTag at national highways fee plazas. Any road users can visit any authorised physical PoS locations with a valid Registration Certificate (RC) of the vehicle and get a NHAI FASTag at no cost. 

What is the FASTag System?

FASTag is an electronic toll collection system, operated by the National Highway Authority of India. 

FASTag is a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) sticker fixed to the windshield of the car enabled via barcode and is connected to the registration details of the car.

This enables automatic deduction of the toll tax and lets the vehicles pass without stopping thus decreasing the waiting and processing time.