NHAI directs issuer banks to validate FASTag-linked vehicle registration numbers

Synopsis

The directive comes after the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) received multiple complaints where the VRN captured by FASTag readers does not match with the actual registration number displayed on the vehicle number plate.

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has directed all FASTag issuer banks to undertake immediate validation of vehicle registration numbers (VRNs) linked with FASTags issued by them and to blacklist those FASTags that are found to be linked with incorrect or invalid VRNs, a move aimed at enhancing the accuracy and reliability of data in the electronic toll collection (ETC) system.

The directive comes after NHAI received multiple complaints where the VRN captured by FASTag readers does not match with the actual registration number displayed on the vehicle number plate.

“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,” it said in the directive.

“It has been observed that a considerable number of such mismatches are associated with FASTags issued prior to the integration of FASTag issuance with the VAHAN database,” it added.

According to the statement issued by the ministry of road transport and highways, validation mechanisms were relatively limited during that period and relied more on manual processes, leading to potential inconsistencies in vehicle identification records.

In its directive, NHAI emphasized that ensuring the correctness of VRN mapping with FASTag is of critical importance, especially in view of upcoming technology-driven initiatives such as multi-lane free flow (MLFF) tolling.

Under the MLFF framework, enforcement actions including issuance of electronic notices (e-Notices) to non-compliant vehicles will significantly depend on accurate and verified vehicle identification data, it said.