FASTag

2022-01-02T17:43:06Z

60.243.59.141:

{{short description|Electronic toll collection system in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2019}}

{{Infobox company
| name = FASTag
| logo = File:FASTag logo.svg
| logo_caption = Easy to Cruise
| logo_alt = FASTag Logo
| type = [[Electronic toll collection]]
| industry =
| fate =
| predecessor = 
| successor = 
| founded = {{Start date and age|2014|11|04}}
| founder = 
| defunct = 
| hq_location_city = Dwarka, [[Delhi]]
| hq_location_country = [[India]]
| area_served = Pan-India
| key_people =
| products = RFID Tags
| owner = [[National Payment Corporation of India]]
| num_employees =
| num_employees_year = 
| parent = [[Ministry of Road Transport and Highways]]
| website = {{URL|https://nhai.gov.in/#/national-electronic-toll-collection}}
}}

'''FASTag''' is an [[electronic toll collection]] system in [[India]], operated by the [[National Highway Authority of India]] (NHAI).<ref name="brandname"/><ref name="nhai1a" /> It employs [[Radio-frequency identification|Radio Frequency Identification]] (RFID) technology for making toll payments directly from the prepaid or savings account linked to it or directly toll owner. It is affixed on the windscreen of the vehicle and enables to drive through toll plazas without stopping for transactions. The tag can be purchased from official Tag issuers or participating Banks<ref name='nhai1'/> and if it is linked to a prepaid account, then recharging or top-up can be as per requirement.<ref name='nhai2'/> The minimum recharge amount is {{INR}}100 and can be done online.<ref name="faq">{{cite web| url=https://www.npci.org.in/what-we-do/netc-fastag/faqs| title=FAQs on NETC FASTag}}</ref> As per [[National Highways Authority of India|NHAI]], FASTag has unlimited validity. 7.5% cashback offers were also provided to promote the use of FASTag. Dedicated Lanes at some Toll plazas have been built for FASTag.

In January 2019, state-run oil marketing companies [[Indian Oil Corporation|IOC]], [[Bharat Petroleum|BPCL]] and [[Hindustan Petroleum|HPCL]] have signed MoUs enabling the use of FASTag to make purchases at petrol pumps.<ref name='livemin2'/>

As of September 2019, FASTag lanes are available on over 500 [[National Highway (India)|national]] and [[State highways in India|state highways]] and over 54.6 [[lakh]] (5.46 million) cars are enabled with FASTag.<ref>{{cite web |title=These innovations are helping digital payments go mass |url=https://www.sify.com/finance/these-innovations-are-helping-digital-payments-go-mass-news-business-tjss5Udgbefib.html |website=Sify |access-date=21 September 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Starting 1 January 2021, FASTag was to be mandatory for all vehicles but later the date was postponed to 15 February 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Radhakrishnan|first=S. Anil|date=19 November 2020|title=FASTag mandatory for all four-wheelers from Jan. 1|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/fastag-mandatory-for-all-four-wheelers/article33136020.ece|access-date=25 December 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Timeline ==

[[File:MPEW-MSRDC-Talegaon-Toll-ETC.jpg|thumb|300px|Electronic Toll Lanes on the [[Mumbai Pune Expressway]].]]
* The system was initially set up as a pilot project in '''2014''' on the stretch of the [[Golden Quadrilateral]] between [[Ahmedabad]] and [[Mumbai]].
* The system was implemented on the [[Delhi]] - [[Mumbai]] arm of the Quadrilateral on '''4 November 2014'''.<ref name="nonstop"/>
* In '''July 2015''', toll plazas on the [[Chennai]] - [[Bangalore]] stretch of the Golden Quadrilateral started accepting FASTag payments.<ref name="CHNBLR"/>
* By '''April 2016''', FASTag was rolled out to 247 toll plazas on [[National Highway (India)|national highways]] across [[India]], representing 70% of all toll plazas in the country at the time.<ref name='log1'/>
* By '''23 November 2016''', 347 fee plazas out of 366 on national highways across the country accept FASTag payments.<ref name='pib1'/>
* On '''1 October 2017''', the NHAI launched a FASTag lane in all 370 toll plazas under its ambit.<ref name='livemint1'/>
* On '''8 November 2017''', it was followed up by making FASTag mandatory on all new vehicles sold in [[India]] after December 2017.<ref name='news18_1/>
* On '''19 October 2019''', it was announced that FASTag will be mandatory on all National Highways from 1 December 2019 and non-FASTag users will be charged double the toll.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/insight-18-fastags-mandatory-for-vehicles-on-national-highways-from-dec-1-heres-how-it-will-ease-traffic-4549301.html/amp|title = Insight 18 | FASTags mandatory for vehicles on national highways from Dec 1, here's how it will ease traffic}}</ref>
*During '''November''', Hyderabad airport launches FASTag Car Park facility.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/gmr-hyderabad-international-airport-introduces-fastag-car-park-facility/article29998409.ece|title=GMR Hyderabad International Airport introduces FASTag Car Park facility|last=Somasekhar|first=M.|website=@businessline|language=en|access-date=26 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/hyderabad-airport-launches-fastag-parking-11574411495829.html|title=Hyderabad airport launches FASTag parking|date=22 November 2019|website=LiveMint|language=en|access-date=26 November 2019}}</ref>
* On '''15 December 2019''', FASTag became mandatory throughout India.<ref>{{cite news |title=FASTag will become mandatory from December 15, 2019 |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/save/fastag-mandatory-for-all-vehicles-from-dec-1-heres-how-to-buy-activate-it/articleshow/72126974.cms |newspaper=The Economic Times |access-date=2 December 2019|language=en|last1=Dubey |first1=Navneet }}</ref>
* 600+ Toll Plazas are now connected with FASTag. Many more are in queue to connect very soon.
* On '''1 January 2021''', FASTAG was made mandatory at every toll plaza in the country.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reddy |first1=Ravi |title=FASTag at toll plazas must from January 1 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/fastag-at-toll-plazas-must-from-jan-1/article33273609.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=7 December 2020}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name='news18_1'>{{cite web|title=Come December, All New Vehicles Will Have FASTag for Cashless Toll Plazas: Nitin Gadkari|url=http://www.news18.com/news/india/come-december-all-new-vehicles-will-have-fastag-for-cashless-toll-plazas-nitin-gadkari-1570953.html|website=News18|date=8 November 2017|access-date=9 November 2017}}</ref>

<ref name='nhai1a'>{{cite web|title=Another Official FAQ|url=http://nhai.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/Images/pdf/Frequently%20Asked%20Questions.pdf|publisher=NHAI|access-date=10 November 2017}}</ref>

<ref name="brandname">{{cite news|title=FASTag Roll-out and Facilitation |url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=146152 |date=13 June 2016 |work=[[Press Information Bureau]] |location=New Delhi |access-date=13 June 2016}}</ref>
<ref name='log1'>{{cite web|url=http://thelogicalindian.com/news/fastag-is-now-active-in-over-70-toll-plazas-on-national-highways/|title=FASTag Is Now Active In Over 70% Toll Plazas On National Highways|date=21 April 2016|publisher=The Logical Indian}}</ref>

<ref name='pib1'>{{cite web|title=Electronic Toll Management System|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=154486|website=Press Information Bureau|access-date=18 December 2016}}</ref>
<ref name='livemint1'>{{cite news|last1=Sood|first1=Jyotika|title=Four-wheelers sold from December must be fitted with FASTag: Centre|url=http://www.livemint.com/Industry/uIsK8St9gDUor5CJb4DX5I/Fourwheelers-sold-from-December-must-be-fitted-with-FASTag.html|access-date=9 November 2017|date=3 November 2017}}</ref>

<ref name="nonstop">{{cite news|title=Soon, drive non-stop and pay tolls speeding through 'FASTag' lane |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/business/business-others/soon-drive-non-stop-and-pay-tolls-speeding-through-fastag-lane/ |first=Siddhartha |last=Gupta |date=31 October 2014 |work=[[Indian Express]] |location=New Delhi |access-date=2 November 2014}}</ref>
<ref name='nhai2'>{{cite web|title=Official FAQ|url=http://www.nhai.org/FAQ1.pdf|publisher=NHAI|access-date=10 November 2017}}</ref>
<ref name='livemin2'>{{cite web |author=Staff Writer |title=Coming soon: Pay at petrol pumps in seconds using FASTags |url=https://www.livemint.com/Companies/hEztl9H1Qf1fL6zuK9oZNL/petrol-diesel-pump-FASTags-toll-road-highways-nitin-gadkari.html |publisher=livemint.com |access-date=9 January 2019 |language=en |date=9 January 2019}}</ref>

<ref name='nhai1'>{{cite web|title=FASTag Page in NHAI website|url=http://nhai.gov.in/national-electronic-toll-collection.htm|access-date=10 November 2017}}</ref>
<ref name="CHNBLR">{{cite news|title= Driving From Chennai to Bangalore? Get Smart Tag to Zip Through the Toll Gate |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Driving-From-Chennai-to-Bangalore-Get-Smart-Tag-to-Zip-Through-the-Toll-Gate/2015/07/27/article2942564.ece |date=27 July 2015 |work=Express News Service |agency=[[The New Indian Express]] |location=Chennai |access-date=27 July 2015}}</ref>

}}

== External links ==
* [https://nhai.gov.in/#/national-electronic-toll-collection Webpage for FASTag on NHAI website]

{{Transport in India}}

[[Category:Electronic toll collection]]
[[Category:E-government in India]]
[[Category:Toll roads in India]]
[[Category:Ministry of Road Transport and Highways]]
[[Category:Indian trucking industry]]
[[Category:Modi administration initiatives]]
[[Category:Fare collection systems]]
[[Category:2014 establishments in India]]

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FASTag