The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced major changes to their FASTag rules and regulations. These new FASTag rules will be effective from 17th February, 2025 and are meant to make toll transactions more streamlined and to curb fraudulent activities. Keep reading to know what these FASTag rules are.
What Is FASTag?
FASTag is a prepaid tag that allows travelers to pay tolls electronically without having to stop at toll plazas. The FASTag system uses RFID technology to deduct the amount of toll fee from the linked bank account. The FASTag is affixed to the vehicle’s windshield and is a convenient way of avoiding long traffic lines at the toll plaza.
New FASTag Rules: What You Need To Know
According to NPCI’s circular circulated on 28th January, 2025, FASTag operations will now be time-bound, relative to when it is scanned at the toll plaza. The circular states that:
“Transactions that are presented shall be validated based on reader read time and the time at which the tag is placed under hotlist/ low balance/ blacklist”.
Moreover, it also stated that:
“Transactions presented on tags which are not active for more than 60 minutes prior to reader read time and up to 10 minutes after reader read time shall be declined with reason code 176”.
To sum it up, the new rules introduced two key timeframes:
- If a FASTag has been blacklisted, hotlisted, or has low balance for more than an hour before reaching the toll booth, the transaction will be declined.
- If the FASTag remains inactive or blacklisted for 10 minutes after it has been scanned, the transaction will be declined.
- If a FASTag meets both the conditions, then the system will decline the transaction. It will show an error code 176 and the vehicle will be charged twice as penalty fee.
The FASTag accounts are categorized into two types: Whitelisted (active) and blacklisted (inactive). A FASTag can be blacklisted if:
- It has insufficient balance
- The Know Your Customer (KYC) is incomplete
- There are discrepancies in vehicle registration details
Under the new system, FASTag users cannot depend on last-minute recharge if their tag has been blacklisted for more than 60 minutes before arriving at a toll plaza. However, if they recharge within 10 minutes of the transaction, they may qualify for a refund for a refund of the penalty charged to them and they’ll be only required to pay the regular toll fee.
What To Do To Not Get Blacklisted
- Regularly update your KYC to avoid getting blacklisted
- Maintain sufficient balance in your FASTag account before traveling
- Check your FASTag status before starting your journey, especially if it is a long one.
Summing Up
The new FASTag rules and regulations are being implemented from 17th February 2025 to ensure that fraudulent transactions are minimized as much as possible. Travelers will have a 70-minute window (60 minutes before arriving at the toll plaza and 10 minutes after the transaction) if their FASTag has been blacklisted, is not updated, or has insufficient funds. This way, travelers can avoid unnecessary delays and charges as well. So, if you are setting out on a memorable road trip, make sure to follow all FASTag rules!
