NHAI Cracks Down on ‘Loose FASTags’ to Boost Tolling Efficiency Ahead of MLFF Rollout
New blacklisting process targets misuse of “tag-in-hand” FASTags to ensure smoother travel, combat fraud, and support upcoming Annual Pass & MLFF tolling systems.
The Impressive TimesNew Delhi | July 11, 2025 — In a move to further streamline toll operations and uphold the integrity of the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has strengthened its reporting and blacklisting policy for “loose FASTags”, also known as “tag-in-hand” FASTags.
As part of upcoming tolling advancements such as the Annual Pass System and Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling, NHAI emphasized the need to eliminate the misuse of FASTags that are not properly affixed to vehicle windscreens. These loosely held tags allow users to bypass toll lane scanners, triggering operational inefficiencies, false chargebacks, and system abuse—particularly in closed-loop tolling environments.
“Tag-in-hand” practices have become a major concern for toll operators, leading to lane congestion, toll fraud, and disruption of automated toll collection, ultimately causing delays and inconvenience for genuine users.
In response, Toll Collection Agencies and Concessionaires have now been directed to immediately report such instances using a dedicated email ID provided by NHAI. Upon receipt, NHAI will promptly initiate blacklisting or hotlisting of the reported FASTags to prevent further misuse.
With a FASTag penetration rate of over 98%, India’s tolling system is among the most digitized in the world. However, such misuse threatens the smooth functioning of the system. The latest move aims to ensure that only valid, vehicle-mounted FASTags are used, boosting both operational efficiency and user experience on National Highways.
This policy shift will:
Reduce delays and congestion at toll plazas
Prevent fraudulent or repeated use of single FASTags
Ensure seamless toll transactions under MLFF and Annual Pass systems
Enhance system transparency and reliability
As India gears up for next-gen tolling, NHAI’s tightened enforcement of FASTag compliance is a key step toward making highway travel faster, fairer, and fully automated.
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