NHAI Ditches Routine KYV Checks for Cars with FASTags, Boosts Highway Convenience

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In a move to simplify highway travel, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced that banks will no longer be required to conduct routine Know Your Vehicle (KYV) verification for cars issued FASTags. This change aims to reduce post-activation harassment faced by highway users and improve public convenience. The revision, set to take effect on February 1, will only require KYV verification in specific instances, such as when a complaint arises regarding loose or duplicate tags, or mismatches between the vehicle number and the FASTag. Under the new system, banks will be responsible for completing all verifications related to vehicle ownership and identity before FASTag activation. This means they will no longer be allowed to seek additional documentation or initiate KYV checks after activation. NHAI has also strengthened pre-activation validation norms for issuer banks to ensure accuracy and system integrity. According to the new rules, FASTag activation will be permitted only after vehicle details are validated against the VAHAN database. In cases where vehicle details are not available on VAHAN, banks must validate details using the Registration Certificate (RC) before activation. It's worth noting that this revised system will only apply to cars and not to commercial vehicles, such as trucks and multi-axle vehicles, which have different risk factors and remain exempt from this relaxation.