The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has directed all FASTag issuing banks to immediately verify the Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) linked to FASTag accounts with an aim to improve the accuracy and reliability of India’s electronic toll collection system.
Strict Fastag Verification: Everything You Need to Know
In an official statement, the highway authority said the move comes after several complaints where the registration number captured by the FASTag scanner does not match the number displayed on the number plate of the vehicle. NHAI said such discrepancies could weaken enforcement systems, lead to potential revenue leakage and also lead to penalties under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.This issue is especially seen in older FASTags issued before integration with the VAHAN database. During that period, verification processes were more manual and less robust, which could result in inconsistencies in vehicle data.
NHAI stressed that accurate mapping of vehicle registration number with FASTag is important, especially with the rollout of upcoming technologies like Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling. Under this system, toll collection and enforcement, including issuing electronic notices to violators, will depend heavily on accurate vehicle identification.As part of the directive, banks have been asked to immediately verify the FASTags issued by them. Any FASTag found linked to wrong or invalid registration number will be blacklisted as per government guidelines.Stay connected to TOI Auto for latest updates on the automotive sector and follow us on our social media handles on Facebook, Instagram and Xpress.