New FASTag Rules Take Effect: Everything You Need to Know
New FASTag balance validation rules have come into effect in India. These have brought about major changes that could potentially impact how you pay tolls. These updates are aimed at making toll transactions smoother, reducing fraud, and cutting down long queues at toll plazas. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) have rolled out these new regulations. Failing to comply could mean paying double the toll fee. Here's everything to know...
Blacklisted FASTags Won’t Work Anymore
One of the biggest changes is that if your FASTag is blacklisted, you won’t be able to make a toll payment. If a FASTag is marked as blacklisted at least ten minutes before it is scanned at a toll booth, the payment will automatically be declined.
This means that if you drive up to a toll gate without checking your FASTag status, you could end up stuck in a long queue without a way to pay.
To help drivers avoid this inconvenience, authorities have introduced a seventy-minute grace period. If your FASTag is blacklisted and you realize it before crossing the toll gate, you have a window to recharge your account and reactivate it.
Double Toll Fees for Blacklisted FASTags
If you reach a toll booth with a blacklisted FASTag, be prepared to pay twice the normal toll fee. This can be avoided. If you recharge your FASTag within 10 minutes of the failed transaction, a refund for the extra charge will be processed automatically. This change is meant to encourage users to keep their FASTag accounts active and topped up at all times.
Extra Charges for Delayed Transactions
Another important update is the introduction of penalties for delayed payments. If your FASTag payment is processed more than fifteen minutes after your vehicle has passed through the scanner, you could be hit with additional charges.
Charge back Option for Incorrect Deductions
To protect users from unfair deductions, banks are now allowed to initiate chargebacks for transactions that were incorrectly processed due to a blacklisted or low-balance FASTag. However, this refund will only take place after a waiting period of 15 days. This ensures that any disputes are properly verified before a refund is issued.
Why FASTags Get Blacklisted—and How to Avoid It
There are several reasons why a FASTag can be blacklisted, and most of them are easy to prevent. The most common is insufficient balance in your account, which can stop your tag from working when you need it the most.
Other reasons include failing to update your Know Your Customer (KYC) details, not paying toll taxes, or discrepancies in your vehicle’s registration or chassis number when scanned.
To avoid getting caught in a tricky situation at a toll plaza, always ensure that your FASTag account has enough balance before starting a journey. Checking your FASTag status regularly can also save you from unnecessary delays and penalties.
If your account balance is low, recharge it before reaching the toll booth. Also, keep your KYC details updated so it remains active and hassle-free.
Stay Ahead and Travel Smoothly
With these new rules in place, keeping your FASTag account in good standing has become more important than ever. By maintaining sufficient balance, staying updated on your account status, and ensuring your KYC details are accurate, you can avoid unnecessary fines and travel without interruptions.
Should Users Be Worried About The New Rules?
Well, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), recently said in a statement, that there is no need to be worried. It clarified that the new circular aims at resolving disputes between Acquirer Banks and Issuer Banks over the FASTag status of a vehicle. Thus, a more seamless and faster transaction cycle can be ensured. The circular, as per NHAI, would hardly affect FASTag customers.
The National Highways Authority also recommends linking FASTag to UPI, wallets or bank account, and enabling the Auto-pay for the most hassle-free (or should I say 'hands-free'?) experience.