The tolls on various stretches of road are usually known as congestion spots where journeys get delayed as vehicles queue up. The FASTag is an electronic toll payment option that allows vehicles to pass through quickly with no need to make a cash transaction.
These FASTags have now been declared mandatory for all vehicles from December 1 by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
What is a FASTag?
Itis an electronic tag that is usually affixed on the inside of a vehicle'swindscreen. The tag uses RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology andit is linked to either a bank account or a prepaid wallet. When a vehicle usesa FASTag to pass a toll plaza, the tag is scanned and the toll amount isautomatically deducted without the vehicle coming to a halt. That makes theprocess faster and more efficient.
Where do you get a FASTag for your vehicle?
FASTagsare easily available from various sources. It can be issued by 22 certifiedbanks through channels such as select bank branches and even from point-of-salelocations at National Highway toll plazas. They can even be bought from onlineretailers such as Amazon. The onetime charge and costs for the FASTags can varydepending on the issuer.
Atthis point in time, the National Highways Authority of India is providingFASTags at no charge to encourage vehicle owners to make the switch toe-tolling before the deadline. The Rs 150 security deposit will also be paidfor by the NHAI. However, this government offer is only valid till December 1.
Itis also important to note that each FASTag is valid for one vehicle only.Hence, owners must get more for their other vehicles.
How do you activate your FASTag?
Thereare two ways to activate your FASTag for it to work at E-Tolls. The first is todo it yourself using internet banking and connect the tag to a bank of yourconvenience since it is a bank neutral service. Vehicle owners can also use theMy FASTag mobile app to for the activation process and also to use the prepaidwallet service.
Ifyou do not wish to do it yourself, you can activate the FASTag by visiting thenearest branch of the bank you want to link it to.
What documents do you need for a FASTag?
Vehicleowners need to submit certain documents to activate the FASTag. This includesthe vehicle registration certificate, photo of car owner and KYC documents ofowner such as ID and address proof alongside the FASTag application.
