Sponsored feature: Have you FASTagged your vehicle yet?

The open road. You, your machine and a feeling of freedom. That is until you see a toll plaza loom in the distance and the long lines of taillights snaking from it. Suddenly, it’s like you’re back in bumper to bumper city traffic. Of course, the queue you’re not in is moving faster than yours and some genius thinks he can sneak his SUV into the line just ahead of you. Don’t forget the people arguing to be allowed through without paying the toll, those who decide to look for cash only when it’s their turn to pay . And there’s that one toll operator who decides to use candy as currency. Brilliant.The wonders of the not-so-open road. But now, there is a solution. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has developed the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) program to make paying tolls on national highways a much simpler and faster affair. Read on if saving time, saving fuel and adding convenience to your life interests you.

Presenting the FASTag

FASTag is a device that uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to make cashless toll payments without requiring you to stop your car. At the moment, this tag works at over 500 toll plazas all the national highway and selected state highway across the country. Here’s what’s important. So far, the FASTag was optional. From December 1, 2019, the FASTag will be made mandatory on national highways across the country. That means Post 1st December 2019 all the lane at the National Highway toll plaza will be enable for toll collection through FASTag and only one lane for collection through Cash.

How does it work?

Once attached to the inside of your windshield, the RFID tag is linked with your car’s registration. When you drive through a toll plaza, dedicated lanes with FASTag readers will detect your taged vehicle, read it, deduct the necessary amount from the linked prepaid bank account, and authenticate your journey through the toll plaza. All this, without requiring you to stop your car or wait in a queue.

It’s easy and convenient. FASTag’s are available at select toll plazas, select bank branches, retail PoS location, issuer bank websites, amazon.in and on the official My FASTag app on the Google Play Store. The rates of FASTag is fixed to 100/- rupees however the threshold balance to be loaded in FASTag account will differ as per the issuers’ transaction rules, so you may want to check them all before you order one.

You also need the following documents:

• Vehicle registration certificate.
• Vehicle owner’s passport size photo.
• Vehicle owner’s identity and address proof, e.g. Aadhar/ Passport.

Photocopies may need to be submitted, but originals are required for verification.

Currently 22 bank are issuing FASTag list is given below.

Tried and Tested

In case you’re wondering whether FASTag will work smoothly, have no fear. FASTag’s were first implemented over four years ago as a measure to reduce cash handling, promote digital payments, reduce fuel consumption, and increase transparency. In September 2019, an average of 9.7 lakh transactions were processed daily through FASTags across the country. Since the program began, over 56 crore FASTag payments amounting to Rs 13,449 crore were processed till the end of September 19.

Avoid the last-minute rush and apply for here - https://www.npci.org.in/request-fastag. Make the most of the open road.