The Government, through the Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), has progressively tightened the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to detect and blacklist ‘loose FASTags’—tags not affixed to vehicles as required. As per IHMCL’s circular dated 19 August 2019, fee plaza operators must report such violations to the Acquirer Bank and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), following which the Issuer Bank is responsible for verifying and blacklisting the non-compliant FASTag. IHMCL oversees adherence to these protocols.
A subsequent circular issued on 16 July 2024 reiterated provisions of the National Highways Fee Rules, 2008, which mandate that vehicles without a valid and functional FASTag must pay double the toll. The new directive clarified that vehicles with ‘non-affixed’ FASTags also fall under this rule and must pay double the toll in cash, aiming to serve as a strong deterrent.
To ensure compliance, the circular dated 26 June 2025 introduced a structured reporting format, requiring toll agencies to submit weekly violation data to IHMCL. Based on this data, IHMCL instructs NPCI to blacklist the reported FASTags.
The Government has also directed all toll operators and concessionaires to enforce measures against ‘loose FASTags’ and ensure strict implementation of toll rules.
In parallel, efforts are underway to expand the FASTag ecosystem. A Fintech Workshop held on 25 June 2025 brought together banks, fintech companies, NPCI, payment service providers, and tolling system operators to explore broader applications for FASTag. Discussions focused on integrating FASTag into fuel payments, EV charging, parking, congestion tolling, and other mobility services.
Participants also explored incorporating value-added services, data-driven mobility solutions, and user-friendly digital features to establish FASTag as a unified digital mobility platform. The objective is to enhance convenience, efficiency, and transparency across India’s transport and toll collection systems.
This update was provided by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.?
