Starting February 17, 2025, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways are rolling out new FASTag rules to improve toll payment efficiency and reduce disputes. These include stricter penalties for low-balance and blacklisted FASTags, revised chargeback procedures, and new transaction time limits.
Contents
Highlights
- Delayed FASTag transactions (beyond 15 minutes) may lead to extra charges.
- Chargeback requests can only be raised after a 15-day cooling period.
- Blacklisted or inactive FASTags will be declined at toll plazas.
- Transactions from inactive FASTags (for over 60 minutes) will be automatically rejected.
Penalties for Delayed Transactions
- If a toll transaction is not processed within 15 minutes of the vehicle passing the toll reader, the user may be charged extra.
- If the FASTag does not have enough balance, the toll operator will be responsible for the failed transaction.
- If a user is charged incorrectly, they must wait 15 days before disputing the deduction.
New Chargeback Process & 15-Day Cooling Period
Chargebacks (Refund Requests) for Wrong Deductions:
- Users can dispute wrong deductions only after waiting for 15 days.
- If a chargeback is raised before 15 days, it will be automatically rejected with error code 5290 (Cooling period not completed).
- The exact date for implementing this in the NETC system will be announced separately.
Transactions from Inactive/Blacklisted FASTags to be Rejected
- If a FASTag has been inactive for over 60 minutes before crossing the toll and remains inactive for another 10 minutes after, the transaction will be declined.
- Such failed payments will be rejected with error code 176.
How to Avoid FASTag Penalties & Rejections
- Keep Sufficient Balance: Always top up your FASTag wallet before traveling.
- Monitor Transactions: If deductions don’t happen immediately, check for possible delays.
- Wait 15 Days Before Disputing a Wrong Charge: Raising a chargeback too early will result in automatic rejection.
- Check FASTag Activity: Ensure your FASTag is active and not blacklisted to prevent payment failures.
Important Takeaways
- Toll payments processed after 15 minutes may incur extra charges.
- Chargeback requests before the 15-day cooling period will be rejected.
- FASTags inactive for over 60 minutes may face automatic rejection.
- New rules come into effect on February 17, 2025.
Also read: SEBI Mandates Public Consultation for Rule Amendments
