In-Depth: What Is FASTag And How To Get One?
The union government has made FASTag mandatory for the collection of toll tax from December 15. According to the new rule, all toll tax of National Highway will be collected through FASTag only. Currently, FASTag is being distributed free of cost on toll plazas and you can buy it online as well. If someone does not apply this FASTag in his car till December 15 then he will have to pay the double amount at the toll. However, there will be a lane at toll plazas for vehicles without FASTag. On the other hand, if there is a fault in the scanner and is not able to scan the FASTag, then the driver will not have to pay any money. He will be able to pass the toll for free.
What is FASTag?
It is a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag that is mounted on the windshield of the vehicle. After applying it, if your car passes through the toll plaza then the cameras on the toll plaza will scan it and the amount will be automatically deducted from your account. However, for this, it is necessary that your FASTag is recharged. It is a prepaid service, so you need to have the minimum required balance before crossing the toll. According to NPCI data, toll tax is currently being collected at 537 toll plazas in the country through FASTag. It is also important for you to know that this will NOT work on state highway tolls.
How FASTag works?
When your vehicle approaches the toll gate, the tag scanner will scan the FASTag that is mounted on your windshield. Once it scans the tag, the payment process will automatically complete and the user will get an SMS alert on the registered mobile phone about the transaction and the remaining balance.
How to get a FASTag?
To ensure maximum participation, the government is providing free FASTags at Toll plazas operated by the National Highway Authority of India, Banks, and Petrol pumps of Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum till December 1. You can also get a FASTag through Paytm, Amazon and My Airtel App. To recharge the FASTag, you can simply link your bank account through UPI and make payments or you can download My FASTag App as well. It is valid for 5 years from the date of issue.
Documents required for FASTag
To get a FASTag, all you have to provide is a registration certificate of your vehicle, a passport size photo, address proof, original as well as a copy of your KYC document along with the vehicle at the POS (Point of Sale) / Sales Office.
What difference does it make?
A study by IIM Calcutta and Transport Corporation of India estimates the cost of delay on Indian roads at $6.6 billion per year. The cost of additional fuel consumption due to delays was also put at $14.7 billion per year. FASTag can reduce this estimate to a great extent. The problem of traffic jams before the tolls can be solved. It will save fuel and time. The problem of exact change could be solved and at the last, it reduces the effort in management at the toll plaza.
