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FASTag

About FASTag

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What is FASTag

Come December 15, get ready to fish out double the toll tax if FASTag is missing from your vehicle. To prevent congestion at toll plazas, the government has made it mandatory to declare all lanes at toll fee plaza on national highways as 'FASTag lanes'.
 
So what are FASTags, how to buy them and are they beneficial?
 
Here are some FAQs on FASTags
 
What is FASTag?
 
FASTag is an electronic toll collection system, operated by the NHAI. Based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, FASTag is affixed on the windscreen of vehicles. In other words, FASTags are prepaid rechargeable tags for toll collection. FASTags do not have any expiry date, hence, they can be used as long as they are not tampered with and are readable at the toll plazas.
 
How does FASTag system work?
 
Vehicles which have FASTag enabled on them, do not have to stop at toll gates as charges are deducted from the prepaid or bank account when the vehicle is moving. This means that drivers do not have to stop their vehicle to make transactions as the toll collection will be done electronically under the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) programme.
 
Is FASTag mandatory?
 
Yes, from December 1, 2019 FASTag will be mandatory. If FASTag is missing from a vehicle, the driver will have to pay double the toll tax.
 
How to buy a Fastag?
 
FASTags are issued by 22 certified banks and through various channels at National Highway toll plazas and also at select bank branches. They are also available on e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart.
 
Which banks issue FASTags?
 
Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, IDFC Bank, State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, Karur Vysya Bank, Equitas Small Finance Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Syndicate Bank, Federal Bank, South Indian Bank, Punjab National Bank, Punjab & Maharashtra Co-op Bank, Sarawat Bank, City Union Bank, IndusInd Bank, Yes Ban, Union Bank, Nagpur Nagarik Sahakari Bank Ltd.
 
Which payment banks issue FASTags?
 
PayTm and Fino Payment Bank issue FASTags.
 
How to activate FASTags?
 
Once you have bought a FASTag, you will have to activate it to make it functional. There are two ways to activate FASTags
 
1. Self-Activation
2. Activate by visiting a bank branch
 
Self Activation
 
Step 1: Download 'My FASTag' mobile app from 'Google Play Store'
Step 2: Enter vehicle details on the app
Step 3: Link the FASTag with your existing bank accounts
 
Do note: FASTags are 'bank-neutral' so no bank is pre-assigned to when you purchase it online or through a POS terminal.
 
In case you don't want to link your bank to FASTag, NHAI Prepaid wallet facility is available, where you can add money and get the toll deducted.
 
Activate by visiting a certified bank branch
 
Visit the nearest certified bank branch and get the FASTag linked with your existing bank account. For this, you will have to submit the KYC document and also the Registration Certificate (RC) of the vehicle.
 
How to recharge FASTags?
 
In case you have linked the FASTag to NHAI prepaid wallet, then it can be recharged through cheque or through UPI/debit card/ credit card/ NEFT/ Net Banking, etc.
 
But if your account is linked to the FASTag, the money will be directly deducted.
 
Can we use FASTag with two or more vehicles?
 
No. You have to buy two separate FASTags for two vehicles.
 
What are the benefits of using FASTags?
 
The government is offering 2.5 per cent cashback on toll payments on using FASTag at toll plazas. Moreover, FASTags will ensure seamless traffic and prevent congestion at toll plazas.
 
When were FASTags introduced?
 
In 2014, FASTags were set up as a key project in the Golden Quadrilateral between Ahmedabad and Mumbai. By 2016, 347 toll plazas national highways started accepting FASTag payments. The following year, NHAI launched a FASTag lane in all 370 toll plazas under its ambit and the government made it mandatory on all new vehicles sold in India after December 2017. On October 19, 2019 FASTag was made mandatory on all National Highways.

Latest Updates on FASTag

The Delhi government plans to introduce a congestion tax on vehicles entering the city during peak hours -- 8 am to 10 am and 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm -- at 13 major border entry points

Updated On: 12 Oct 2024 | 2:16 PM IST

Issuer banks of NETC FASTag and RuPay NCMC must ensure that auto-replenishment done under pre-debit notification exceptions is strictly used for its intended purposes of NETC FASTag and RuPay NCMC onl

Updated On: 26 Sep 2024 | 5:44 PM IST

The Delhi government will soon notify new rates and norms for buses at interstate terminals, Raj Niwas officials said on Sunday.

Updated On: 08 Sep 2024 | 2:38 PM IST

Customers no longer need to manually monitor and replenish their FASTag and NCMC balances.

Updated On: 23 Aug 2024 | 9:14 AM IST

Exempts these card issuers from issuing a pre-debit notification

Updated On: 22 Aug 2024 | 9:35 PM IST

The current e-mandate framework requires a pre-debit notification at least a 24-hours before the actual debit from the customer's account

Updated On: 22 Aug 2024 | 8:08 PM IST

FASTag accounts that are five years old or older must be replaced from August 1

Updated On: 01 Aug 2024 | 11:38 AM IST

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced new rules with a key update being the compulsory FASTag KYC needs. The KYC procedure begins on August 1

Updated On: 31 Jul 2024 | 5:11 PM IST

CCTV footage capturing the VRN at toll plazas will be recorded to ensure proper documentation of the fee charged and the vehicle's presence in the toll lane

Updated On: 19 Jul 2024 | 10:19 AM IST

NHAI said deliberate non-affixation of FASTag on the windscreen leads to unnecessary delays at the toll plazas causing inconvenience to fellow National Highway users

Updated On: 18 Jul 2024 | 11:34 PM IST

IMPS down by 7%, FASTag 4%; but Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS) see a 11% jump in volume & 7% in value

Updated On: 01 Jul 2024 | 11:54 PM IST

NHAI's decision to implement the 'One Vehicle, One FASTag' policy stems from concerns over the misuse of FASTags

Updated On: 02 Apr 2024 | 6:15 PM IST

The year also saw a record value of Rs 199.89 trillion, compared to Rs 139.1 trillion. In February 2024, transactions stood at 12.10 billion and Rs 18.28 trillion, respectively

Updated On: 01 Apr 2024 | 11:13 PM IST

NHAI had extended the 'One Vehicle, One FASTag' initiative compliance deadline to March-end, in view of the problems being faced by Paytm FASTag users

Updated On: 01 Apr 2024 | 3:37 PM IST

As April 2024 begins, we enter a new financial year with significant updates impacting our finances and investments. Take a look at what changes from today

Updated On: 01 Apr 2024 | 6:02 PM IST

This will help avoid penalties or double fee charges while commuting on National Highways, as per the statement

Updated On: 13 Mar 2024 | 3:37 PM IST

NHAI is likely to extend the 'One Vehicle, One FASTag' initiative compliance deadline to March-end

Updated On: 29 Feb 2024 | 12:11 PM IST

NHAI had earlier proposed to implement 'One Vehicle, One FASTag' initiative from March 1

Updated On: 29 Feb 2024 | 12:19 AM IST

In the recently released FAQs, the RBI suggested users procure a new FASTag issued by a bank other than Paytm Payments Bank before March 15

Updated On: 19 Feb 2024 | 9:35 AM IST

NPCI oversees the United Payments Interface payments, and NHAI operates the FASTag service

Updated On: 09 Feb 2024 | 10:16 AM IST