Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Failure to pay user fee because of faulty FASTag or for low balance in the tag while crossing a barrier-less plaza on NH network will cost you double, if you don’t pay the user charge within 72 hours, as per a govt notification. Similarly, if the tolling agency fails to examine and dispose of any complaint within five days, the claim for the unpaid user fee will automatically lapse.The changes have been made in the National Highways Fee Rules to rein in users going scot-free after not paying the user charge and also to hold the tolling agencies accountable.The amendments provide a structured recovery mechanism in cases of “unpaid user fee” to strengthen digital enforcement of toll collection, particularly in the context of evolving barrier-free tolling systems. The rules came into effect from Tuesday. As per the amended Rules, “unpaid user fee” has been defined as the toll applicable to a vehicle whose passage has been recorded by Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) infrastructure but where the applicable user fee has not been received.TOI on March 7 had first reported the change in Rules just ahead of the launch of barrier-less tolling on NHs. As per the new norms, an electronic notice (e-notice) will be issued to registered vehicle owners for “unpaid user fee” specifying vehicle details, date and location of passage, and the amount payable. The notices will be sent through SMS, email, mobile-based applications and will also be made available on a designated portal.The rules further provide for integration of the national electronic toll collection system with the VAHAN database to enable seamless identification of vehicles and enforcement of unpaid dues.As per the amendment, the unpaid user fee payable in response to an e-notice will be twice the applicable toll amount. However, to encourage timely compliance, if the amount is paid within 72 hours of issuance of the e-notice, only the original user fee will be payable without any additional charge.A provision has also been made for grievance redressal. Any aggrieved vehicle owner or driver may submit a representation through the designated portal within 72 hours of issuance of the e-notice. Agencies will get five days to examine and dispose it of within five days, failing which the claim for unpaid user fee will lapse.“In cases where the unpaid user fee remains unpaid beyond 15 days and no representation is pending, the amount will be recorded in the VAHAN system, and appropriate restrictions may be imposed on vehicle-related services until the dues are cleared,” the ministry said.The restrictions on vehicle-related services include transfer and renewal of RC.
