The Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on the 25th of December, mandated FASTag for all vehicles in India.
FASTag, an online payment method to be used at toll plazas, would be in effect from the 1st of January 2021.
Addressing a virtual function, Mr. Gadkari said, FASTag would be enforced from January 1, 2021. Enumerating its benefits, he said, it is useful for the commuters as they will not need to stop at toll plazas for cash payments. It will also save time and fuel.
The initiative was taken to reduce traffic congestion by eliminating manual toll tax payments at toll plazas, which are time consuming. However, with the FASTag system, vehicle owners would not have to wait and pay the toll tax at plazas. Moreover, it would also lessen the work of the workers at the plazas.
FASTag is a prepaid rechargeable tag which would help vehicles cross toll plazas without making a payment manually. The moment vehicles cross the toll plaza, the tax would be deducted from their linked account.
The National Highways Authority of India, in collaboration with 20 nationalised and private banks, put in place the FASTag system.
FASTag is a device affixed on the windscreen of the car and works using radio frequency identification (RFID.) Cars registered with FASTag need not wait for their turn at toll plazas as the moment the car enters the plaza, a FASTag reader would detect the registered car and cut the toll tax automatically.
