SOP for Issuance of FASTag to Exempted Category of Mechanical Vehicles

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has introduced RFID based FASTag to implement Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) programme so as to remove delays and congestion at user fee plazas and also to smoothen the user fee collection operation.

As a part of this endeavour, it has been decided that all categories of vehicles included under the category of "exempted from paying user fees" as per Rule 11 of National Highways Fees (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 and subsequent amendments, should also be encouraged to use FASTag.

The SOP provides details of issue of FASTag to exempted category Mechanical vehicles.

Overview of SOP

Exempted category FASTag shall be issued to road users as per Rule 11 of NH Fee Rule 2008 and subsequent amendments (List of Exempted category of mechanical vehicles), based on application made by self or an authorized representative.

NHAI shall be the nodal point to facilitate all matters relating to issuance of all exempted FASTag.

Exempted FASTag shall be issued free of cost to the exempted categories of mechanical vehicles as per NH Fee Rule 2008 and subsequent amendments.

NHAI or any agency authorized by NHAI, shall procure the exempted FASTag,coordinate the entire process and maintain proper record. Initially 5,000 (Five thousand) exempted FASTag may be procured from the Tag Manufacturers and further procurement of exempted FASTag may be done as per requirements. This agency shall be responsible for the following:

• Tag procurement and inventory management, based on requirement.
• Coordinating with NHAI-ROs for issuance of exempted FASTags and record keeping.
• Addressing dispute w.r.t. complaints regarding malfunctioning or any other related complaint in this regard.

NHAI/ the agency authorized by NHAI shall be the single issuer of all exempted categories of FASTag across India. No member banks shall be allowed to issue exempted category FASTag from the date of issue of this SOP.

The linking of bank account details with "FASTag" in respect of dignitaries covered under Rule 11 (a) of NH Fee Rules 2008, as amended, is optional. However, it is advised that all these FASTags be linked to any issuer bank account or pre-paid payment instrument (e.g credit/ debit card, e-wallet, etc), so that proper record keeping can be ensured through generation of zero transaction receipts. Linking of the exempted FASTag to bank account shall also ensure its usability even after completion of the period of exemption for which the FASTag is designated.

A monthly report regarding the issuance of exempted FASTag shall be submitted to MoRT&H and NHAI HQ by 5th of every month.

For the avoidance of doubt, it is clarified that, vehicles/persons that have been exempted from payment of user fees but have not been affixed with functional exempted FASTag shall continue to reap the benefit of nonpayment of user fees upon production of valid ID card.

Detailed Mechanism of Issuance of Exempted FASTag

It has been decided that receipt of application and internal scrutiny and processing of application shall be done online. (NHAI/Agency authorized by NHAI shall develop a web-portal for facilitating the issuance of Exempted FASTags and web-link of which may be provided in home page of web site of MoRT&H & NHAI). Till development of such web-page, application can be made in physical form.

The requisite Application, along with the applicable documents, will be submitted through the web-page (or physical application, till such webpage is made operational) by the self, or an authorized representative, to the respective Regional Office (RO), NHAI.

All applications for exempted category of FASTag shall be submitted through the prescribed form (Refer Format of application).

Exempted FASTag shall be valid for 5 years in case of Government vehicles, 1 year in case of private vehicles and to be renewed subsequently as per eligibility and rules. Exempted FASTag for MP and MLA/MLC shall be valid for respective tenure of parliament! assembly.

Details of the dignitaries/ mechanical vehicles for which exempted FASTags to be provided is as under:

• For Dignitaries as mentioned in Rule 11(a) exemption is available to vehicle transporting the dignitaries and accompanying security vehicle. One FASTag may be issued in the name of the
• As per Rule 11(b), vehicle used for official purpose are only exempted. In light of this, issuance of FASTag under this category should be limited to that vehicle only.
• As per Rule 11(c, d & e) namely for Ambulance, Funeral van & vehicle for persons with physical defect or disability, issuance of FASTag will require providing of requisite document in this regard by the applicant.
• Member of Parliament (MP) will be issued two FASTag, for two vehicles i.e. one for New Delhi and one for her/ his constituency.
• Member of Legislative Assembly/Legislative Council (MLA/MLC) of a State will be issued one FASTag for their vehicles for the State.

RO-NHAI after scrutiny of application and the documents, will take the following action

• If application is found in order- forward it to NHAI/ the authorized agency for issuance of exempted FASTag.
• If application detail/document are found inadequate - seek clarification from applicant. Re-examine the application upon resubmission by applicant.
• If any clarification needed regarding Policy/Rule- refer matter to NHAI HQ for clarification.

Upon successful verification of the application form, NHAI HQ/ the, agency authorized by NHAI will issue exempted FASTagto respective RO-NHAIand a proper record there-of shall be maintained.

Subsequent to receipt of exempted FASTag from NHAI HQ/ the authorized agency, RO-NHAI shall get it fixed on the designated vehicle and record of receipt of application and exempted FASTag issued/fixed on vehicle shall also be maintained.

A monthly report in this regard, compiled from all the NHAI-ROs and the agency authorized by NHAI for issuance of exempted FASTag shall be submitted to MoRT&H and NHAI HQ by 5th of every month.

All exempted category FASTag which have previously been issued by various banks shall be reviewed and if needed new exempted FASTag will be issued and fixed in the designated vehicles within six months.

NHAI-HQ shall review the process of issuance of exempted FASTag and the list of mechanical vehicles exempted from payment of user fees, from time-to time, to ensure appropriate issuance of exempted FASTags in conformity to the National Highways Fees (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules 2008, as amended from time to time. The guidelines and the standard operating procedures may be further detailed and/or amended as per requirement.

Source: National Highways Authority of India