FASTag was introduced by the Government of India in October 2017, by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway. This was a revolutionary idea that was introduced as a solution to the many inconveniences faced by commuters and drivers at large while crossing toll plazas.
FASTag is one of the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) initiatives, which was designed by the Indian government. This program enables toll tax collection without the need for a human present to complete the transaction. It aims to make Inter-State travel on roads easier by cutting down the time and manpower required to collect toll tax.
FASTag does that through Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). The chip on the FASTag contains your vehicle details as well as a unique ID that is linked to your account. The scanner detects this and automatically collects the toll amount from the wallet linked to your account.
Being Cashless:-
One of the most significant benefits of making FASTag mandatory is the elimination of the stress of having correct change in cash at toll booths. The transaction will be cashless, and funds will automatically be deducted from your FASTag wallets.
Easy Recharge:-
It's not a hassle to recharge FASTag. You can easily recharge your FASTag with the minimum amount being INR 100 and maximum upto INR 1,00,000. It can be easily recharged at any time by using payment applications like Park+ which provide you with multiple payment options such as UPI, Net Banking, Credit/Debit Cards and Wallets. You can also link your FASTag to your bank account which will automatically debit the amount from your balance without the need for recharge.
Saves Your Time:-
With the introduction of FASTag lanes, you do not have to wait in long-standing queues at the toll plaza. The technology aims to make traffic smoother and faster by automating the entire process. The scanning and deduction of money from your FASTag takes mere seconds. This makes what once was a 45 minute wait to get to the toll booth, a process that does not require you to stop for toll payment.
Use It Anywhere in India:-
You can use FASTag at any toll plaza in India irrespective of where the tag was purchased. It's one of the many advantages of buying FASTag, it is functional in more than 520+ toll plazas across national and state highways.
Saves The Environment:-
Using FASTag also helps you save a lot of fuel. Without the requirement of standing in queues at the toll plaza with your engines on, you save time and fuel consequently reducing the amount of air pollution generated. Since FASTag ensures a paperless transaction, there is also a lot of paper saved daily from the toll slips that are given, the transaction is already recorded in the log.
SMS Updates:- FASTag SMS not only records and updates you about all the transactions (and their amount) taking place on your FASTag, it also updates you about low balances which you can then promptly recharge.
5-Year Validity:- After buying FASTag it remains valid for the next 5 years. You are only required to top-up/ recharge your FASTag in those 5 years.
Getting Cashbacks:- Buying and recharging your FASTag comes with a lot of perks. While a lot of these can be observed on your commute there are also monetary benefits that one can enjoy with FASTag. On applications such as Park+, you will receive upto INR 75 cashback for your first 5 recharges. Additionally, Park+ has promo codes for cashback for various banks and wallets.
Easy to Purchase:- Anyone above the age of 18 can easily purchase FASTag.
There are two ways to buy FASTag:
You can also buy FASTag online. Most banks offer services to buy FASTag online you just need to confirm your vehicle identification process. With apps like Park+, you can purchase your FASTag online at the cheapest rate in the market with a refundable deposit which is delivered right to your doorstep.
FASTag is well on its way to becoming the norm, with the Government of India making FASTags mandatory on cars from February 2021.Various parking facilities are now utilising FASTag for payments. There are many benefits to having FASTag installed in your car, with the main reason being the ease with which both travel and transactions take place. It saves you time, money and fuel. This reason gives FASTag its motto; Easy to Cruise.