Major Relief for FASTag Users: Government Confirms No 60-Minute Rule Enforcement
Major Relief for FASTag Users: Government Confirms No 60-Minute Rule Enforcement
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has clarified recent reports about potential changes to FASTag rules that could result in transaction failures if the tag is inactive for over 60 minutes before or 10 minutes after the reading time. NHAI has rejected these claims, stating that a recent circular from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) does not affect FASTag users.
NHAI explained that the circular is intended to help resolve disputes between Acquirer Banks and Issuer Banks regarding the status of FASTag when vehicles pass through toll plazas.
It also aims to ensure that FASTag transactions are completed in a timely manner to avoid delays for users.
The authority confirmed that all National Highway toll plazas operate on the ICD 2.5 protocol, which provides real-time status updates for tags, allowing users to recharge their FASTag anytime before reaching the toll plaza.
However, some toll plazas on State Highways still use the older ICD 2.4 protocol, which requires regular updates on tag status. There are plans in place to upgrade these plazas to the ICD 2.5 protocol soon.
To ensure smooth transactions, FASTag users are advised to connect their wallets to UPI or set up auto-recharge with their bank accounts. Users can also manually recharge their FASTag using UPI, net banking, or other payment methods before arriving at the toll plaza.
NHAI confirmed that FASTag users will not encounter any new limitations and can continue to use the system as they have been without any interruptions.
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2104728
