No FASTag yet? Be ready to pay double toll charge now

The government on Sunday said it has made FASTags mandatory from February 15 midnight and any vehicle not fitted with it will be charged double the toll at electronic toll plazas across the country. The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways in a statement said it has decided that all lanes in the fee plazas on National Highways shall be declared as ‘FASTag lane of the fee plaza’ from midnight of 15th/16th February 2021. Som if your vehicle has no FASTag, just get one before planning to hit the roads, otherwise be ready to shell out.

“Therefore, as per NH Fee Rules 2008, any vehicle not fitted with FASTag or vehicle without valid, functional FASTag entering the FASTag lane of the fee plaza shall pay a fee equivalent to two times of the fee applicable to that category,” the statement said.

Government declares FASTag mandatory w.e.f midnight of 15th/16th February 2021

Any vehicle not fitted with FASTag or without valid, functional FASTag entering into FASTag lane, shall pay a fee equivalent to two times of fee applicable to that categoryhttps://t.co/xIfF6ATYaN pic.twitter.com/B6LPNknyUQ

— PIB India (@PIB_India) February 14, 2021

The central government extended the FASTag deadline for the vehicles from 1 January 2021, to 15 February 2021.

Amazing! Delhi to Dehradun in just two and a half hours

The ministry has clarified that this has been done to further promote fee payment through digital mode, reduce waiting time and fuel consumption, and provide for a seamless passage through the fee plazas.

The ministry had mandated fitment of FASTag in M&N categories of motor vehicles with effect from January 1, 2021.

Category ‘M’ stands for a motor vehicle with at least four wheels used for carrying passengers. And Category ‘N’ stands for a motor vehicle with at least four wheels used for carrying goods, which may also carry persons in addition to goods

What are FASTags?

FASTags are simple to use, reloadable tag which enables automatic deduction of toll charges and lets you pass through the toll plaza without stopping for the cash transaction. FASTag is linked to a prepaid account from which the applicable toll amount is deducted. The tag employs Radio-frequency Identification (RFID) technology and is affixed on the vehicle’s windscreen after the tag account is active.

Benefits of FASTags

1) No need to carry cash for the toll transactions, saves time

2) Near non-stop movement of vehicles leading to lower fuel cost.

3) FASTag can be recharged online through Credit Card / Debit Card / NEFT/ RTGS or Net banking

4) SMS alerts for toll transactions, low balance, etc.

5) Online Portal for customers

6) Validity of 5 Years