As of today, February 17, 2025, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has implemented new FASTag regulations to enhance toll collection efficiency and reduce fraudulent activities. Key changes include:
- Transaction Timeframe Enforcement: FASTag transactions must be processed within 15 minutes of the vehicle passing the toll reader. Delays beyond this period may result in additional charges. If a transaction is delayed due to insufficient balance in the user’s FASTag account, the toll operator will be held responsible.
- Chargeback Process and Cooling Period: Banks can raise chargebacks for incorrect deductions related to blacklisted or low-balance FASTags only after a mandatory 15-day cooling period. Chargebacks filed before this period will be automatically rejected.
- Inactive or Blacklisted Tags: Transactions will be declined if the FASTag has been inactive, blacklisted, or marked as low balance for more than 60 minutes before reaching the toll booth or remains inactive within 10 minutes after being scanned. In such cases, users may be required to pay double the toll amount as a penalty.
To avoid disruptions, users should ensure their FASTag accounts have sufficient balance and remain active before embarking on journeys. Regularly updating Know Your Customer (KYC) details can also prevent potential blacklisting.
For further assistance or to check your FASTag status, contact your issuing bank or visit the official FASTag portal.
By: Pankaj Bansal
