Lucknow: A major toll fraud involving overloaded trucks passing through using fake registration numbers has been uncovered around the state capital, exposing a well-organised racket that allegedly caused a revenue loss of over ₹8 crore in just two months. The case has raised serious concerns over toll operations, the FASTag system, and the overall monitoring mechanism in place.
Fake Registration Numbers Used to Bypass Toll System
The scam came to light when an enforcement team from the transport department intercepted a suspicious truck during a routine inspection. Upon verification, it was found that the toll had not been deducted based on the vehicle’s actual registration number but instead through a fake number. This discovery prompted a deeper investigation into toll records from the past two months, gradually revealing the scale of the operation.
Preliminary findings indicate that hundreds of overloaded trucks were allowed to pass through Nawabganj and Itaunja toll plazas using fake or untraceable registration numbers, often referred to as “MA series” entries. Out of a list of approximately 1600 trucks that crossed the toll during the review period, nearly half were found to have suspicious or unverifiable numbers. This points to a systematic and coordinated operation rather than isolated incidents.
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Overloading Penalties Evaded, ₹8 Crore Loss Estimated
The most striking aspect of the scam lies in the financial loss. Under transport regulations, overloaded trucks are liable to pay penalties ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹1.25 lakh per vehicle. However, by using fake numbers, these trucks reportedly paid only ₹500 to ₹700 as toll charges and passed through without scrutiny. Had proper enforcement been carried out, the total penalty collection could have exceeded ₹8 crore.
Investigators suspect that such large-scale manipulation would not have been possible without the involvement of toll plaza personnel. The possibility of internal collusion is being closely examined, as bypassing established systems and allowing fake entries at this level requires access and coordination within the toll infrastructure.
FASTag System Under Scrutiny, Probe Expands
The incident has also brought the FASTag system under scrutiny. Designed to ensure seamless and transparent toll collection, FASTag is linked to a vehicle’s registration number and automatically deducts toll charges. In this case, however, either the system was deliberately bypassed or manipulated through alternative methods, allowing trucks to evade proper identification and payment.
Another alarming dimension of the scam is its potential impact on road safety and law enforcement. Trucks passing through toll plazas with fake numbers become extremely difficult to trace in case of accidents or violations. After any highway incident, authorities typically rely on toll plaza data and CCTV footage to identify vehicles. The use of fake numbers disrupts this process, enabling offenders to escape accountability.
A case has been registered against a truck driver and an unidentified toll plaza employee in connection with the matter. During the operation, the intercepted truck was fined ₹1,08,600 for overloading violations. Authorities have also initiated a broader probe to examine the extent of the racket and identify all those involved.
As the investigation progresses, more revelations are expected regarding the network and its operational methods. Officials are focusing on analysing transaction data, toll logs, and surveillance footage to establish a clear chain of events and accountability. For now, the case has emerged as a major example of how systemic loopholes and possible internal collusion can lead to large-scale revenue losses. It also underscores the urgent need for tighter oversight and robust enforcement mechanisms to safeguard both public revenue and road safety.
