National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) launched the ‘One Vehicle, One Fastag’ initiative on January 15, 2024 to enhance the efficiency of the electronic toll collection system and facilitate seamless movement at toll plazas.
Key points
- The initiative aims to discourage user behavior such as using a single FASTag for multiple vehicles or linking multiple FASTags for a particular vehicle.
- National Highways Authority of India is also encouraging FASTag users to complete their latest FASTag Know Your Customer (KYC) process by updating KYC as per Reserve Bank of India guidelines.
- The National Highway Authority of India has announced that Fastags with incomplete KYC along with outstanding funds will be deactivated by banks after January 31, 2024.
- According to NHAI, FASTag users will also have to comply with ‘one vehicle, one FASTag’ and surrender all FASTags previously issued through their banks.
- According to NHAI, for any assistance, Fastag users can get information from the nearest toll plaza or toll-free customer care number of the issuing banks.
Reason for ‘One Vehicle, One Fastag’ initiative
- Preventing use of one FASTag for multiple vehicles or linking multiple FASTags to a single vehicle
- To follow the orders of Reserve Bank of India
- Avoiding unnecessary delays at toll plazas
- Enhancing the Efficiency of Electronic Toll Collection System
- To provide unhindered movement at toll plazas
Fastag
- It is a radio frequency identification tag.
- Fastag is a kind of sticker which is applied on the screen of the vehicle.
- Because of this, one does not have to stop at the toll plaza to pay toll fees.
- The cameras installed at the toll plaza scan the bar-code of the Fastag sticker and the toll fee is paid.
- The system was initially installed as a pilot project on the Golden Quadrilateral between Ahmedabad and Mumbai in 2014.
- It was launched in April 2016.
- From December 1, 2017, it is mandatory for all new cars and trucks to have FASTag installed before they are sold.
- The validity of a FASTag is up to 5 years.
Benefits of Fastag
- To make people aware about cashless transactions.
- Along with saving time and fuel, traffic jams will also be avoided.
- Toll tax evasion can be stopped.
- Tracking of vehicles can be done with the help of Fastag.
- Like Metro card, Fastag can be recharged through credit card, debit card and net banking.