Fastag: Where and how to get it

If you travel on the national highways and you have to go through the toll point, then from 1 December 2019 you must have a ‘fastag’.

The Transport and Highway Ministry says that toll tax will be paid on all national highways of the country through Fastag by December 1, 2019.

Fastag is a digital sticker that should be placed on the front mirror of vehicles. Through this, the government is trying to promote cashless toll tax payment.

If fastag is not installed in the train till December 1, then the person may have to pay the double toll.

Fastag promoting a cashless system is a digital sticker based on Radio Frequency Identification Technology ie RFID.

At present, tax can be paid in both cash and cashless ways in the system applicable to toll points.

Under the new system, the fasted trains will not have to stand at the toll point. The amount of toll tax from the person’s account will be deducted from the prepaid account or linked bank account itself.

The government has decided to make all the lanes of a toll on the National Highway to be fastag lanes so that people do not have trouble at the toll block.

Every single lane going in and out will be designated as a hybrid lane to collect tax under the existing system.

Screenshot of the video released by National Payments Corporation

The biggest benefit will be from the fastag is that there will be less rush on toll points.

The car will not stop, neither the passengers will have any problem nor the environment will be contaminated due to the smoke coming out of the car.

A digital record of every train will also be automatically recorded with the government, which will make it easier to track the car if needed.

There will be no need to carry cash with the driver.

You will also find it much easier to know about your monthly expenses, because you will get information about digital payment in the form of account statement.

Arrangements have been made at many levels to enable people to buy fastags easily. As of 18 November 2019, 28,500 sales centres have been built for sale in places like banks, Indian Highways Management Company and National Highway Authority.

It has also been made available at RTO Office, shared service centre, transport centre and select petrol pumps.

Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has told the National Highways Authority that fastgas will be distributed free of cost to the people by December 1.

Till this date, the National Highway Authority is paying the necessary 150 rupees for this.

Fastag online for cars, jeeps and vans can also be purchased online on Amazon, Paytm Payment Bank, State Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, IDFC First Bank website.

You can click here for where you will find fastag near you.

One can also visit the website of National Payments Corporation for fastag . Click here to see the list of banks.

You can download the My FASTag App on your Android phone to find out about the nearest Fastag sales centre.

A website has been created for this, you can apply by going there.

On clicking on the website, you will see the names of all those banks which are associated with this scheme. Here you can also get Fastag recharged.

You can also call the National Highway Helpline number 1033 for more information.

Fastag can be recharged just as you recharge your metro card or any gift card.

UPI recharge facility has been developed through National Highway Authority, National Payments Corporation or My FASTag App.

Fastag can also be recharged through NetBanking, Credit or Debit Card.

You can get Rs 100 to Rs 1 lakh recharged in Fastag.

If you don’t use Fastag

According to the notification of the government, if any train enters the toll barrier without the fast tag, then there will have to pay double the fee applicable for that category of the train.

What papers will be needed?

For fastag, you will need the registration certificate ie RC, the passport size photo of the owner of the vehicle and the driving license.

Also, as proof of address, you will need an Aadhaar card, PAN card or Voter ID card.

If you have two vehicles, you will need different fastags for both.

The validity of a fastag will be up to five years.

One important thing is that if you live within a radius of 10 km of the toll point, then you will get a rebate which will come in your account in the form of cashback.

Originally published at https://www.mubahisa.in.