In a significant move to strengthen the accuracy and reliability of the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has directed all FASTag issuer banks to carry out an immediate validation of Vehicle Registration Numbers (VRNs) linked to FASTags issued by them.
The directive comes in response to multiple complaints highlighting discrepancies between the VRNs captured by FASTag readers and the actual registration numbers displayed on vehicle number plates. Such discrepancies have the potential to undermine enforcement mechanisms and may lead to evasion of government revenue and also attract other penal provisions under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Emphasising the urgency of the matter, NHAI stated that accurate VRN mapping is crucial, particularly in light of technology-driven initiatives such as multi-lane free flow (MLFF) tolling. Under the MLFF system, enforcement actions, including the issuance of electronic notices (e-notices) to violators, will depend heavily on precise and verified vehicle data.
In this context, FASTag issuer banks have been instructed to undertake immediate verification of all issued FASTags and blacklist those found to be linked with incorrect or invalid VRNs, in accordance with government guidelines.
