FASTag is now active in over 70% Toll Plazas on National Highways
[orc]The Electronic Toll Collection program of NHAI, FASTag can now be used in over 70% of the toll plazas on national highways across the country. The NHAI is also offering cash back of 10% on all toll payments using FASTag in 2016-17 as an incentive to encourage its use.
The Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) program, FASTag of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is now active in over 70% of the Toll Plazas on National Highways. 273 toll plazas on National Highways are now enabled to accept ETC through FASTag. The NHAI is also offering cash back of 10% on all Toll payments using FASTag in 2016-17.
What is FASTag?
FASTag is a device that uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for making toll payments directly from the prepaid account linked to it. It is affixed on the windscreen of a vehicle and enables one to drive through toll plazas. FASTag has a validity of 5 years from the date of purchase and users need to recharge or top up as per requirement. FASTag offers the convenience of cashless payment of toll fee with nation-wide inter-operable Electronic Toll Collection Services.
What are the major advantages of FASTag?
The NHAI is promoting FASTag underscoring the following advantages
- 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
- Incentive: One can avail a cash back of 10% on all Toll payments using FASTag in 2016-17
The NHAI is also citing the environmental, social and economic benefits of using FASTag.
How to Enroll?
Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL) and National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) are implementing this program with help from Toll Plaza operators, FASTag Issuer Agencies and select banks.
Any user who wishes to enroll may visit any of the Point of Sale (POS) locations at Toll Plazas or Issuer Agencies to get a FASTag account created. For getting a FASTag account, customer needs to submit a copy of the following documents along with the application for FASTag
- Registration Certificate (RC) of the vehicle.
- Passport size photograph of the vehicle owner
- KYC documents as per the category of the vehicle owner (Valid documents are Driving License, PAN Card, Passport, Voter ID Card & Aadhaar Card with address)
FASTag has onetime fees of Rs 200 (a refundable deposit) for a car. Different vehicle types have a different fee. Once the account is purchased, standard instructions must be followed for affixing the FASTag.
How does it work?
FASTag can be recharged by making payment through cheque or online through Credit Card/ Debit Card/ NEFT/ RTGS or through Net Banking. FASTag account can be recharged up to a maximum of Rs 1 lakh from a minimum of Rs 100.
FASTag users have to follow the standard operating procedure (SOP) for crossing the toll plazas. Toll Plazas may have a dedicated FASTag lane or provision for validating FASTag through a handheld reader.
The dedicated lanes will be marked and boards/screens will be displayed with the FASTag logo about 70m from the toll plaza.
User will receive an SMS with requisite details to his registered mobile number as soon as the toll transaction takes place. The monthly pass facility is specific to each toll plaza. One can call customer care of the participating bank / issuer agency for further details. Once an account is purchased, users can login to their online account to check the balance etc.
The toll operators have also been given a standard operating procedure for smooth passage of FASTag vehicles through toll plazas. Users can go through the FAQs posted on the NHAI website for more details.
Featured image: By Rsrikanth05 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
