TL;DR
- NPCI has announced new FASTag rules that will come into effect from 17th February.
- The rules will impact those who have a habit of relying on last-minute FASTag account recharges.
- The accounts will get blacklisted leading to penalties.
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced new FASTag regulations that will take effect on February 17, which is the upcoming Monday. These regulations aim to enhance the efficiency of toll transactions and reduce fraudulent activities. The updated rules are outlined in Circular 28, and vehicle owners and travelers need to be aware of these changes to ensure a seamless travel experience and avoid payment issues at toll plazas.
Under the revised regulations, neglecting to recharge your FASTag balance in advance and depending on last-minute recharges may lead to complications. For further details on these new rules and associated penalties, please continue reading.
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New FASTag Rules
According to NPCI’s circular, FASTag transactions will now be validated in a time frame when the tag is read at a toll booth. Two conditions come into play-
a) If a FASTag has been blacklisted, added to a hotlist, or identified as having a low balance for over 60 minutes prior to arriving at the toll booth, the transaction will be denied.
b) If the FASTag continues to be blacklisted or inactive within the 10 minutes following its scan, the transaction will likewise be refused.
If the above two conditions are met, the system will decline the transaction with error 176 and the vehicle owner will have to pay twice the toll charges as a penalty.
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How will this affect Vehicle owners?
FASTag accounts across India will now be divided into two categories- Whitelisted (Active) and Blacklisted (inactive). It might be blacklisted due to-
- Insufficient balance or funds.
- Pending KYC verification
- Discrepancies in vehicle registration details
Owners can no longer depend on last-minute recharges if their FASTag has been blacklisted for over an hour prior to arriving at the toll booth. However, if a recharge is completed within 10 minutes of attempting a transaction, the standard toll fee will apply instead of a penalty.
A legal expert emphasizes that keeping sufficient FASTag balances and ensuring KYC is updated in advance will be essential to avoid transaction failures. While these regulations improve system integrity and help minimize fraudulent activities, they may present difficulties for consumers who are not aware of the recent changes.
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What should FASTag Users do to avoid penalties?
- Ensure that you have an adequate balance before embarking on extended trips.
- Keep your KYC information current to avoid the risk of being blacklisted.
- Verify the status of your FASTag before arriving at toll booths.
- Stay knowledgeable about the management of FASTag accounts to navigate regulations smoothly.
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