Waiting time at toll plazas is likely to come down as FASTags will now be fitted in all four wheel motor vehicles sold on or after December 1, 2017.

The ministry of road transport & highways has issued a gazette notification and the FASTags will be fitted by the manufacturer of the vehicle or its authorized dealer, as the case may be. In case of vehicles that are sold as drive away chassis without wind screen, FASTag will have to be fitted by the vehicle owner before it is registered.

Necessary amendments have been made to the relevant sections of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.

So, what is FASTag?

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) rolled out program for electronic toll collection on toll plazas on National Highways to be called FASTag.

FASTag is a device that employs Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for making toll payments directly from the prepaid account linked to it. It is affixed on the windscreen of your vehicle and enables you to drive through toll plazas, said NHAI.

FASTag has a validity of 5 years and after purchasing it, you only need to recharge/ top up the FASTag as per your requirement. FASTag offers near non-stop movement of vehicles through toll plazas and the convenience of cashless payment of toll fee with nation-wide interoperable electronic toll collection services.

What about the benefits?

Ease of payment – No need to carry cash for the toll transactions, saves time

Near non-stop movement of vehicles leading to lower fuel cost.

Online Recharge – FASTag can be recharged online through Credit Card / Debit Card / NEFT/ RTGS or Net banking

SMS alerts for toll transactions, low balance, etc.

Online Portal for customers

Validity of 5 Years

The customer will receive an SMS with requisite details to his registered mobile number as soon as the toll transaction takes place. Periodic statement of account may also be obtained on website of the Issuer Agency after registration by the customer.

Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL) (a company incorporated by National Highways Authority of India) and National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) are implementing this program with help from toll plaza concessionaires, FASTag issuer agencies and toll transaction acquirer (select banks).

FASTag is presently operational at over 240 toll plazas across National Highways. More toll plazas will be brought under the FASTag program in the future.