FASTag Only, Do Not Pay Toll in Cash Directly; ED Warns as Payments Bypass NHAI Accounts

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has found that payments made in cash at toll plazas without FASTag scanning do not reach the accounts of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The money paid by travellers instead reaches private accounts, while officials allegedly issue fake receipts.

The ED also found that toll operators used unauthorised mobile applications, including ‘MobData’ and ‘Any’, to issue fake receipts to motorists making cash payments. Officials found that such payments do not appear in NHAI’s official accounts.

The investigation also found that such fraud is taking place at toll plazas in several states across the country. Drivers of old vehicles and trucks that have not fully switched to FASTag, as well as drivers employed by business establishments, are among those targeted by such fraud. Even vehicle owners with valid FASTags sometimes seek alternative ways to make payments when scanning fails or when other technical problems arise.

The ED launched its investigation following complaints of large-scale toll collection fraud at the Atrail Toll Plaza in Mirzapur and other toll plazas across the country.

As part of the investigation, the ED conducted raids at multiple locations in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Forensic examination of devices seized during the searches found that unauthorised apps were being used at around 100 toll plazas.

The ED has so far recovered approximately Rs 1.03 crore during its searches. Intermediaries and some toll operators appointed by the NHAI are under the agency’s surveillance.