**Summary:**
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), through the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has strengthened the process for reporting "loose FASTags" (also referred to as "taginhand") to ensure the integrity and reliability of the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system. This policy update mandates Toll Collecting Agencies and Concessionaires to immediately report and blacklist such FASTags. The initiative is in anticipation of upcoming programs like the Annual Pass System and Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling, where FASTag authenticity is critical.
The practice of deliberately not affixing FASTags to vehicle windscreens creates operational challenges, including lane congestion, false chargebacks, misuse in closed-loop tolling systems, and overall disruption of the ETC framework. To facilitate timely corrective action, NHAI has established a dedicated email ID for reporting these instances and will promptly blacklist or hotlist reported FASTags.
Given the high FASTag penetration rate (over 98%), addressing the issue of loose FASTags is crucial for maintaining the efficiency of electronic toll collection operations and ensuring seamless journeys for National Highway users. This initiative aims to streamline toll operations and enhance the overall user experience.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport Highways: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development and maintenance of road transport and national highways.
NHAI: National Highways Authority of India, the agency responsible for the development, maintenance and management of National Highways in India.
FASTag: An electronic toll collection system in India operated by NHAI.
Electronic Toll Collection: A system to automatically collect tolls from vehicles without requiring them to stop.
Delhi: A city and union territory of India.
Annual Pass System: An upcoming initiative related to FASTag usage.
MultiLane Free Flow MLFF: An upcoming tolling initiative related to FASTag usage.
National Highway: Roads maintained by central government of India.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
NHAI Strengthens Process for Reporting 'Loose
FASTag' for Blacklisting
Posted On: 11 JUL 2025 1:17PM by PIB Delhi
To ensure smooth tolling operations and strengthen reporting of ‘Loose FASTags’, NHAI has further
streamlined its policy for the Toll Collecting Agencies and Concessionaires to immediately report and
blacklist ‘loose FASTags’, that are also commonly called “tag-in-hand”. In view of upcoming initiatives like
the Annual Pass System and Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling, it is critical to address this issue to ensure
FASTag authenticity and system reliability.
FASTags are sometimes deliberately not fixed on the windscreen of the vehicle by the owners. Such practices
pose operational challenges leading to lane congestion, generation of false chargebacks, misuse in closed loop
tolling system, causing overall disruption of the Electronic Toll Collection framework, resulting in
unnecessary delays at toll plazas and inconvenience to other National Highway users.
To ensure timely corrective measures, NHAI has provided a dedicated email ID and has directed the Toll
Collection Agencies and Concessionaires to immediately report such FASTags. Based on the reports received,
NHAI will take immediate action to initiate blacklisting / hotlisting of the reported FASTags.
With penetration rate of over 98 percent, FASTag has revolutionized the Electronic Toll Collection system in
the country. Loose FASTags or "tag-in-hand" pose a challenge to the efficiency of Electronic Toll Collection
operations. This initiative will help to make toll operations more efficient, ensuring seamless & comfortable
journeys for the National Highway users.
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SR/GDH/SJ
(Release ID: 2143962)