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NPCI’s New FASTag Rules Kick in Feb 17: What You Need to Know

FASTag Transactions will now be declined if a FASTag is blacklisted, placed on a hotlist, or marked as having a low balance for more than 60 minutes before reaching the toll booth

NPCI’s New FASTag Rules Kick in Feb 17: What You Need to Know

Several new FASTag rules will be adopted beginning Monday, February 17, 2025, to simplify toll transactions. These modifications, as stated in circulars issued by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), aim to increase toll payment efficiency and security. Non-compliance with these rules may lead to users being charged double the toll fee.

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“Transactions that are presented shall be validated based on reader read time and the time at which the tag is placed under hotlist/low balance/blacklist. Transactions presented on tags which are not active for more than 60 minutes before reader read time and up to 10 minutes after reader read time shall be declined with reason code 176 ...This shall be implemented effective February 17, 2025,” NPCI said in a circular dated January 28.

The Changes

Recent changes in FASTag rules introduce stricter regulations regarding blacklisted tags, recharge grace periods, delayed transactions, and chargeback requests.

Transactions will now be declined if a FASTag is blacklisted, placed on a hotlist, or marked as having a low balance for more than 60 minutes before reaching the toll booth. Also, if a FASTag remains blacklisted for 10 minutes after being scanned, the payment will be rejected. In cases where both conditions are met, the system will return error code 176, and the vehicle will be charged double the toll fee as a penalty.

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To provide users with an opportunity to rectify their FASTag status, a 70-minute grace period has been introduced. If a FASTag is recharged within 10 minutes of an attempted transaction, users may be eligible for a penalty refund and will only need to pay the standard toll fee.

Additionally, transactions processed more than 15 minutes after a vehicle passes the toll reader may result in extra charges. Furthermore, banks can now only raise chargeback requests for incorrect deductions related to blacklisted or low-balance FASTags after a mandatory 15-day cooling period.

What is FASTag?

FASTag is an electronic toll collection system that accepts cashless payments at toll plazas. It uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to deduct toll charges from a linked bank account, prepaid wallet, or payment app. A FASTag sticker is placed on the vehicle's windshield.

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When the car approaches a toll booth, RFID sensors read the tag and charge the associated account. The barrier then opens, allowing the vehicle to pass.

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