‘False FASTag toll deduction’: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken strict action against incorrect FASTag wallet deductions, penalising toll collectors in approximately 250 instances.
FASTag users sometimes get toll deduction messages even when their vehicles are parked at home or haven’t crossed toll plazas. Officials attribute this to toll operators’ errors in vehicle number entry, particularly when FASTag becomes unreadable, or when individuals carry tags in their wallets.
IHMCL, the highways authority’s toll management body, now levies a Rs 1 lakh fine per violation in such cases. According to a TOI report, this substantial penalty has resulted in a 70% reduction in such incidents.
Currently, IHMCL receives about 50 legitimate complaints monthly, compared to 30 crore FASTag transactions across national highway toll plazas.
Users have reported false toll deductions on social media platforms and through formal complaints to IHMCL. “Customers facing false deductions can file a complaint by calling 1033 or emailing [email protected] and each case is thoroughly investigated. And if the complaint of such deduction or incorrect manual transactions is established, chargebacks are issued to the customer immediately. Additionally, a Rs 1 lakh penalty is imposed on the toll operator responsible,” said a senior IHMCL official.
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The official explained that incorrect vehicle number entry by toll operators during manual electronic transaction processing remains the primary cause of these false deductions.
A FASTag serves as a rechargeable, prepaid tag that enables vehicles to navigate through toll gates without stopping, utilising RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology. The system facilitates automatic toll fee deductions from a connected prepaid account, which users can control via FASTag applications. This electronic tag, attached to the vehicle’s windscreen, establishes communication with toll plaza scanning equipment.
NHAI implemented FASTag, making it compulsory for all vehicles. This electronic toll collection system has transformed toll payments across India by significantly reducing queue times, decreasing fuel usage, and minimising person-to-person contact at toll booths.
