What is Fastag India ?

When we are all planning a road trip in India, the first thing that will come to our mind is the time going to loose during the journey due to the long queues in the toll plazas, especially if it is festive season.  Also, we have to carry enough coins and currency changes to avoid time lapse at toll plazas.

Don’t worry, India government understood our pain, heard our voices and introduced electronic toll collection, christened it as “Fastag”. So, India’s highways are going cashless with Fastag and vehicles doesn’t need to stop at toll plaza for the cash transactions.

How Fastag Works ?

Fastag is a small sticker which we can paste it on our car’s windshield. Fastag employs Radio-Frequency Identification( RFID ) technology. Radio-frequency identification (RFID) uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track the Fastag attached to windshield. The Fastag chip will contain electronically stored information. This technology helps the tag reader/transceiver placed at the toll plaza to read the data and toll amount is deducted automatically, when the vehicle approaches the toll plaza.

There will be dedicated Fastag lane in the toll plaza. Just take the Fastag lane and the RFID reader will read your Fastag ID on our car’s windshield and the signal will automatically turn green, gate will be lifted.  Toll amount will be deducted directly from your Fastag account.

What is Fastag account?

Currently ICICI bank , AXIS bank and Paytm have partnered with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for Fastag amount transactions. We need to create a  Fastag account with any of above banks or providers. Our Fastag ID number will be linked to this prepaid account from which all the applicable toll amount is deducted.

What are the benefits of Fastag?

• Cashless Transactions

• Save time as it reduces long queues

• Online recharge

• Less Fuel wastage as no long queues

• No paper wastage

• Improved transparency as all transactions completed through online

• Alerts about low balance in Fastag account and also about each transactions into the registered mobile number.

Note:

You need to take separate Fastag for each vehicle you own.

You need to slow down your vehicle while passing through Fastag lane for the transceiver to read the details.

Keep a safe distance from another Fastag vehicle as tailgating the car ahead of you may end up transceiver reading your tag details and money will get deducted from your account.

Conclusion

Pros:

• Whether you need a Fastag or not will depend up on all your travel plans. If you are a frequent traveler and takes national highways during your road trips, then Fastag will help you to save time.

• Fastag is a perfect solution for a hassle free trip on national highways.

• In future, government may make use of Fastag for other services like deducting parking fees at railway stations, airports, shopping malls and other public places.

Cons:

• RFID transceiver/tag reader is placed at different locations/positions in different toll plaza

• Currently dedicated Fastag lane is occupied by non Fastag vehicles also in some toll plaza

• In case ETC reader or equipment at toll plaza are not working, you will have to end up paying by cash, so do carry cash.

 

 

Also read How to apply and activate Fastag India ?