FASTag Payment Facility Suspended at IGI Airport Terminal 3 Parking

The Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), which operates under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has temporarily suspended the FASTag-based payment facility at the Terminal 3 arrival parking of the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. The action follows reports that the parking operator was utilizing the electronic toll collection system to restrict the entry of vehicles rather than limiting its function strictly to the collection of parking fees.The controversy emerged after concerns were raised by public figures regarding access procedures at the airport. Former Niti Aayog vice-chairperson Rajiv Kumar highlighted the issue in a public post on social media, noting that vehicles with annual FASTag passes were being denied entry to the departure lanes at Terminal 3. According to these reports, cars were being diverted to the multi-level parking facility if their main account lacked a specific balance, a process implemented without prior notice to the public.In response to the complaints, IHMCL officials confirmed that the matter had been officially noted. The organization clarified that FASTag is exclusively a payment instrument intended for parking facilities and is not authorized for use as a regulatory tool to enforce entry restrictions. Consequently, IHMCL issued a formal directive to the acquirer bank associated with the T3 parking facility, mandating the immediate discontinuation of any use of the smart tag beyond its primary purpose of processing parking payments.The directive further warned that any failure to comply with these instructions would result in severe consequences. The IHMCL stated that non-compliance could lead to the bank being de-boarded from the electronic toll collection parking facility entirely. By decoupling the payment system from entry management, the authorities aim to standardize operations and prevent further disruptions to passenger flow.Reports suggest that the unauthorized practice had led to significant inconvenience for commuters. Vehicles not using FASTag were reportedly being manually directed toward the multi-level parking area. In many instances, these drivers found themselves stuck in traffic, subsequently breaching the allowed free-time period, which compelled them to pay the associated parking fees. These operational irregularities prompted the swift intervention by the governing authorities to ensure that airport infrastructure remains accessible to the public.The suspension of the payment facility is intended to restore order at the busy terminal arrival area. As the situation remains under review, stakeholders are monitoring the transition back to standard protocols. The move highlights the broader ongoing efforts by the NHAI and its subsidiaries to monitor the digital payment landscape, ensuring that technologies designed for convenience and efficiency are not leveraged to impose arbitrary barriers on transit users.Going forward, the focus remains on ensuring that parking operators adhere strictly to the established guidelines for electronic fee collection. While the payment facility for T3 remains suspended, commuters are advised to monitor official updates from the IGI Airport and relevant transport authorities regarding the restoration of seamless payment services at the parking facility.