Under the One Nation One Tag scheme, having the FASTag RFID tag on a four-wheeler in India will become mandatory from 1st December 2019. So we will discuss in detail about FASTag in this post.
Now Question is What Is FASTag ?
FASTag is the electronic toll collection program on toll plazas by National Highway Authority Of India (NHAI). This tag works on the principal of Redio Frequency Identification (RFID). FASTags are linked with prepaid savings/current account. It is affixed on the windscreen of the vehicle in such a way that the sensor at the toll plaza can read it. When a vehicle passes through a dedicated FASTag lane, the funds are automatically deducted from the linked prepaid account and enable customer to drive through toll plaza, without stopping for any toll payment. A FASTag is valid for five years since the day of activation. One simply needs to keep recharging the linked account to use the same during this period.
How can you get a FASTag?
Buying a FASTag for your vehicle is very easy. On the purchase of a new vehicle, the dealer will sell you one by default. For older vehicles, one can buy a new FASTag at any of the Point of Sale (POS) locations at the NHAI Toll Plazas.Alternatively, one can also directly get a FASTag from any of the private or public sector banks which have tied-up with NHAI. Currently, the list includes Syndicate Bank, Axis Bank, IDFC First Bank, HDFC Bank, State Bank of India and ICICI Bank. You can also buy a FASTag through Paytm.
Documents required to purchase a FASTag
If you are buying a FAStag from any of the POS locations, you need to submit a form along with a copy of the following documents. One must also carry the original copy of these documents for verification.
- Vehicle’s registration certificate (RC).
- Vehicle owner’s recent passport size photograph.
- KYC documents (Driving license, PAN Card, Passport, Voter ID Card or Aadhar Card).
How to use a FASTag?
In order to use the FASTag, one has to remove the plastic covering and affix the tag on the windscreen. First-time users have to sync their tag to the online wallet. For this, visit the website of the bank from which the tag purchased and follow the given steps to complete the process. After this, your FASTag is ready for use.
Are there any benefits of using a FASTag?
One of the main benefits of using a FASTag is that it allows for a smooth passage through toll plazas. There is ease of payment as one does not need to carry cash. It reduces pollution as there is a near non-stop movement of traffic. As the toll plazas will not need to issue receipts for every transaction, it also reduces the use of paper. Apart from all these, the use of a FASTag also awards the users with offers such as cashback and discounts depending upon the vender.
Cashback Offers
Cashback scheme is available to the customers on toll payments using FASTag at National Highways Toll Plazas. The cashback scheme for the current FY is 2.5%.