NHAI is implementing stricter IT standards at FASTag toll plazas to ensure seamless transactions. Now, NHAI will only approve players with extensive experience, and they must procure equipment exclusively from manufacturers certified by the Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) directorate of the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY). The STQC certification is mandatory for various equipment, including RFID (tag) readers, automatic number plate readers, toll lane controllers, and toll plaza servers. System integrators are required to provide an undertaking to IHMCL, NHAI's toll collection agency, assuring that any deviations found at designated toll plazas due to equipment will result in immediate suspension of empanelment and forfeiture of bank guarantees. NHAI is adopting a two-pronged approach to address these issues by ensuring experienced players and certified equipment, along with deploying engineers at regional NHAI offices for better monitoring and issue resolution.
