FASTag compulsory at all Toll Plazas from February 15, 2021

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) recently issued orders to make FASTag compulsory at all toll plazas in effect from February 15, 2021 all across India.

Highlights

  • This decision was taken to promote fee payment using the digital mode, to reduce the waiting time and fuel consumption.
  • It would also provide a seamless passage of vehicles through the fee plazas.
  • In accordance with the NH Fee Rules 2008, If any vehicle which is not fitted with FASTag or vehicle which do not have a valid, functional ‘FASTag’ will enter into the ‘FASTag lane’ of the fee plaza will have to pay fee equal to two times the fee which is applicable in that category.
  • As per the order, there would be no more extension of deadline.

FASTag

  • It is an electronic toll collection system which is operated by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) in India.
  • This system uses the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to make the toll payments.
  • The payments are deducted directly from the prepaid or savings account of the toll owner.
  • The tag is affixed on the windscreen of vehicles.
  • It enables to cross the toll plazas without stopping for transactions.
  • It can be purchased from official Tag issuers or participating Banks.
  • This system has unlimited validity and in order to provide seamless movement, dedicated FASTag Lanes have been built at the toll plazas.

Recent Development

State-run oil marketing companies like IOCL, HPCL and BPCL had signed MoU in January 2019 to enable the use of FASTag in order to make purchases at petrol pumps. This move will further encourage the faster adoption of this mechanism. As per the data till September 2019, FASTag lanes are available across 500 national and state highways. Further, more than 54.6 lakh cars have been enabled with FASTag.


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