Understanding the New E-Notice System
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has rolled out new rules for all national highways, including the busy Delhi-Jaipur expressway, to streamline the process of collecting unpaid toll fees. Instead of relying solely on physical challans, authorities
will now issue electronic notices (e-notices) for any vehicle that passes through a toll plaza without paying. This applies to situations where a FASTag has an insufficient balance, is blacklisted, or is missing altogether. The system uses automated number plate recognition cameras and other electronic infrastructure to log the vehicle, cross-references it with the central VAHAN database to identify the owner, and then sends out an e-notice.
Why Your Mobile Number and Email Are Critical
These e-notices are delivered digitally via SMS, email, or through a dedicated mobile app. This is where having your correct and current contact information becomes non-negotiable. If the mobile number and email address linked to your vehicle's Registration Certificate (RC) and FASTag are old or incorrect, you simply will not receive the notification. The plea of not receiving a notice will not be a valid excuse, as the system will have sent it to the details on record. An unread or undelivered notice can quickly escalate, leading to significant financial penalties.
The Penalty for Missing a Payment
The new rules come with a structured penalty system. When an e-notice for an unpaid toll is issued, you have a 72-hour window to pay the original toll amount without any extra charges. If you fail to pay within that three-day period, the penalty is steep: the amount payable becomes double the original toll fee. Authorities have also established a grievance redressal mechanism, allowing vehicle owners to dispute a notice within the same 72-hour window if they believe it was issued in error. If the authorities do not resolve the dispute within five days, the claim is automatically cancelled.
How to Update Your Contact Information
Ensuring your details are current is a straightforward online process. You need to update your mobile number in two key places: your vehicle's RC and your FASTag account. To update your RC, visit the official Parivahan Sewa portal (vahan.parivahan.gov.in). You will need your vehicle registration number, chassis number, and engine number, which are all printed on your RC. The portal uses Aadhaar-based authentication to verify your identity before updating your mobile number. For your FASTag, you should log in to the customer portal of the bank or agency that issued the tag to update your contact details there as well.
Consequences of Long-Term Non-Compliance
Ignoring an e-notice, whether intentionally or because it was never received, has further consequences. If an unpaid fee is not cleared and no dispute is filed within 15 days, the due amount will be officially recorded against your vehicle in the VAHAN system. This can lead to restrictions on various vehicle-related services, such as renewing fitness certificates or transferring ownership, until the dues are paid. In some cases, authorities have warned that failure to maintain updated records can even lead to the cancellation of the vehicle's registration or the driver's licence. A FASTag with incorrect details may also be blacklisted, preventing you from using automated toll lanes altogether.
