Udaipur, February 17, 2025 - Starting Monday, February 17, 2025, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is introducing a new rule for FASTag users. If your FASTag account has insufficient balance when you enter a toll plaza, you now have 60 minutes to recharge it. If you fail to recharge within this time, you will be charged double the toll fee when you exit the toll plaza.

The FASTag system, introduced in 2016, allows vehicles to pass through toll plazas without stopping for cash payments. It is linked to a prepaid account, with automatic toll deductions. However, many drivers forget to maintain their account balance, causing delays and traffic jams. To address this, NHAI has enforced the 60-minute rule to ensure smooth and faster toll payments.

Under the new rule, if your FASTag balance is low, you will receive a notification through SMS or the app to recharge. If not recharged within 60 minutes, you will be penalized by paying double the regular toll amount. For example, if the toll is Rs. 100, you will have to pay Rs. 200 instead.

Key Points for Users

1. If the FASTag is blacklisted at the toll, the payment will be declined. If blacklisted 10 minutes before scanning, the payment will also fail. Users may have to pay double toll charges but can request a penalty refund if the recharge is done within 10 minutes.
2. A 70-minute grace period is provided to fix the FASTag status before reaching the toll booth.
3. FASTag users could face extra charges if toll transactions are processed more than 15 minutes after crossing the toll.
4. Banks can raise chargebacks for incorrect deductions only after a 15-day cooling period.

Tips to Avoid Issues

• Ensure enough balance in your FASTag wallet.
• Regularly check FASTag status to prevent blacklisting.
• Monitor transaction times to avoid delays.

Source: Media Reports