In a key cabinet decision, the Maharashtra government has announced that FASTags will be mandatory for all vehicles, both private and commercial, passing through toll plazas on national highways, starting from April 1, 2025.
The move aims to reduce traffic congestion, promote cashless transactions, and improve overall efficiency at toll points.
The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways launched the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) program, which facilitates toll fee collection through FASTags using RFID technology. The initiative aims to save fuel, reduce travel time, cut down on pollution, and ensure smooth traffic movement at toll plazas.
The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways had decided that by December 1, 2019, all lanes at Fee Plazas (except one lane on each side) would be designated as ‘FASTag lanes.’ The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has since equipped all Fee Plazas with the Electronic Toll Collection System.
This initiative is part of the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) program, which uses RFID-based FASTags for toll fee collection. The goal is to save fuel, reduce travel time, minimize pollution, and ensure the seamless movement of traffic at toll plazas.
It was decided that all lanes (except one lane on each side) in Fee Plazas shall be declared as ‘FASTag lane of Fee Plaza’ by 1st of December 2019. NHAI has equipped all Fee Plazas with Electronic Toll Collection System.
Benefits Of FASTags
For ease in availability of FASTag, NHAI has launched MyFASTag APP whereby all information regarding FASTag can be obtained along with location of POSs and charging/ linking with NHAI/other wallets or bank accounts.
FASTags are used for seamless travel and transaction at toll plazas.
With the implementation of FASTags, waiting time at plazas gets reduced significantly.
It comes with auto-renewal facility.
Only one FASTag per vehicle is permitted to avoid the confusion and ensure accurate toll collection.
Vehicles without FASTags are required to pay double the toll charges, whereas, vehicles with FASTags are exempted from this.
The implementation of FASTags leads to faster and smoother passage.