Executive Summary:
This document addresses questions regarding the automation of the FASTag system and highway maintenance in Uttarakhand. It details the measures taken to address issues in the FASTag system, the progress of electronic toll collection, and the steps to expedite highway maintenance delayed by natural calamities. The government aims to implement barrier-free Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) and has sanctioned landslide protection work in Uttarakhand since 2022-23.
Key Points / Main Content:
FASTag System Automation:
* All lanes of toll plazas on National Highways are declared FASTag lanes since February 15-16, 2021.
* Over 98% of user fee collection occurs through FASTag under the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) program.
* FASTag transactions are processed in a secure ecosystem involving Toll Management System Software, Acquirer Bank, NPCI, and FASTag Issuer Bank.
* Users can report incorrect toll deductions to the Issuer Bank, National Highway Helpline 1033, or via email at falsededuction@ihmcl.com.
* Chargebacks were made for 12.55 lakh FASTag transactions in 2024 (approximately 0.03% of total transactions), according to NPCI.
* A penalty of Rs. 1 lakh per case is levied on the Toll Collection Agency for false deduction cases.
* Barrier-free Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system implementation is planned, with RFPs invited for Gharonda, Choryasi, Nemili, UERII, and Dwarka Expressway fee plazas.
Highway Maintenance in Uttarakhand:
* Short Term Maintenance Contracts (STMC) for up to two years and Performance-Based Maintenance Contracts (PBMC) for five years are approved for National Highway stretches without post-construction maintenance provisions.
* Urgent temporary restoration works are carried out for monsoon season damages, with Special Repair (SR)/Emergent Repair (ER) works considered for permanent repairs (timeline of 6 months to 1 year).
* Landslide protection work at 211 locations has been sanctioned since 2022-23, costing Rs. 2642.75 Cr.
* Ongoing and planned STMC and PBMC works are detailed, with additional sanctions for machinery.
Impact Analysis:
FASTag Users:
* Impact: Affected by the efficiency and accuracy of the FASTag system, including toll deductions and refund processes.
* Action Required: Report any incorrect toll deductions through available channels (Issuer Bank, Helpline 1033, or email).
Toll Collection Agencies:
* Impact: Responsible for ensuring accurate toll deductions and facing penalties for false deductions.
* Action Required: Implement measures to minimize false toll deductions and adhere to the penalty for each case.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)/Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL):
* Impact: Oversee the implementation and maintenance of FASTag systems and highway maintenance projects.
* Action Required: Investigate complaints of incorrect toll deductions and ensure timely chargebacks. Oversee and expedite maintenance works in Uttarakhand.
Residents/Commuters in Uttarakhand:
* Impact: Affected by the condition of National Highways and the progress of maintenance and restoration works.
* Action Required: Be aware of potential disruptions due to ongoing and planned maintenance activities.
Key Entities Referenced
FASTag: An electronic toll collection system used on National Highways in India.
National Highways: A network of highways spanning across India.
Uttarakhand: A state in India where maintenance work on National Highways was delayed due to natural calamities.
National Electronic Toll Collection NETC programme: An initiative to facilitate electronic toll collection across National Highways through FASTag.
National Payment Corporation of India NPCI: The central clearing house for FASTag transactions.
Electronic Toll Collection ETC System: Barrier-free tolling system to be implemented along with FASTag.
Indian Highways Management Company Limited IHMCL: An organization involved in investigating incorrect FASTag deductions.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The Indian government ministry responsible for road transport and highways.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 66
ANSWERED ON 24TH JULY, 2025
AUTOMATION OF FASTAG SYSTEM
*66. SHRI AJAY BHATT:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is taking any measures to address the
problems related to automation in the FASTag system across the country
and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the timeline by which the automation of all toll plazas across the
country is expected to be completed;
(c) the steps being taken by the Government to expedite maintenance
works on National Highways in Uttarakhand that were delayed due to
natural calamities and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the expected timeline for completion of the said works?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
1STATEMENT
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK
SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 66 FOR ANSWER ON 24.07.2025 ASKED
BY SHRI AJAY BHATT REGARDING AUTOMATION OF FASTAG SYSTEM.
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(a) to (b) The Government has declared all lanes of all toll fee plazas on
National Highways as FASTag Lanes with effect from midnight of 15th/16th
February 2021.
Presently, approximately more than 98% of user fee collection
takes place through FASTag under National Electronic Toll Collection
(NETC) programme. All FASTag transactions are processed in a secure
ecosystem involving Toll Management System Software, Acquirer Bank,
National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) as Central Clearing House
(CCH) and FASTag Issuer Bank. The transaction involves a transparent
process wherein the deducted user fee (Toll) is informed to the highway
users and recorded in a central repository.
In case of incorrect toll deduction, the Fastag user can raise
complaint to the Issuer Bank of FASTag, National Highway Helpline 1033
or dedicated email at falsededuction@ihmcl.com. Each case is
thoroughly investigated by Banks/Indian Highways Management
Company Limited (IHMCL) and chargebacks are done if cases are found
Bonafide. In case of doubtful cases, the benefit of doubt is passed to the
FASTag user. While the standard refund policy of the banks allows for a
period of up to 40 days, such cases are promptly investigated and refund
requests are typically initiated within 3 days.
As per National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) report in 2024,
charge-backs were made to FASTag users for 12.55 lakh transactions
which are about 0.03% of total 410 crore FASTag transactions made in
2024.
In case of false deduction cases, a penalty of Rs. 1 lakh per case is
also levied on Toll Collection Agency.
2Moreover, it has also been decided to implement barrier-free
Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) System with available technology at
selected sections of National Highways as an added facility along with
FASTag. Request for Proposal (RFP) to implement barrier-free tolling
system on the fee plazas of Gharonda, Choryasi, Nemili, UER-II and
Dwarka Expressway has been invited, with the possibility of
implementing it on other fee plazas in a phased manner depending upon
the outcome and efficacy of the implementation on these projects.
(c) to (d) As per Government’s policy, if any stretch of a National
Highway is not covered by a post-construction defect-liability or
maintenance provision in terms of the construction/ development
contract/ concession, then the Government approves either a Short Term
Maintenance Contract (STMC) for a period of up to two years or a
Performance-Based Maintenance Contract (PBMC) for 5 years for already
developed stretches. Apart from these, if there are any damages in
monsoon season, urgent temporary restoration works are carried out to
restore the highway in traffic-worthy condition. For permanent repair
works, Government considers sanctioning of SR (Special Repair) / ER
(Emergent Repair) works on a case-to-case basis, with timeline of 06
months to 01 year for their implementation as per requirement.
The Government has sanctioned landslide protection work at 211
locations with a cost of Rs. 2642.75 Cr. since 2022-23 in the State of
Uttarakhand. In addition, status of Maintenance work, taken up under
STMC & PBMC in Uttarakhand is as under:
Particular STMC PBMC
Length Cost Length Cost
(Km) (Cr.) (Km) (Cr.)
Ongoing 209.50 52.57 - -
Sanctioned work which are under
102.30 25.60 120.20 142.52
Award
Planned for FY 2025-26 220 55 261 350
Additional Sanctioned for Machinery - 5.11 - -
Total 531.80 138.28 381.20 492.52
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