In essence, FASTag is a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) passive tag. The purpose of this tag is to enable toll payments from the account of the vehicle owners while the vehicle is in motion. In other words, the car doesn't have to stop to pay anything. Beginning on December 1st, 2019, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will need this tag for all vehicles, both private and commercial. Each car will have this tag attached to the windscreen.
The benefit of the FASTags
The improvement of the current National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) ecosystem is the National Payments Corporation of India's (NPCI) main goal. The goal is to convert the current single party model into a scalable four party approach that includes the issuer, acquirer, NPCI, and plaza operator. The drivers who are currently backed up in lengthy lines at the toll gates will get some relief from this arrangement. Additionally, the toll collectors who frequently struggle to give accurate change will benefit from this. With the implementation of FASTag, the Government of India has installed electronic toll collection booths all around the nation, putting an end to this issue. Customers do not need to carry cash for transactions at toll plazas after the tags are attached to the vehicles. Thus, this service aims to reduce waiting times and facilitate smooth car flow. Additionally, this will result in less fuel consumption, which will reduce vehicle pollution. Since bottlenecks are frequently played with at toll booths, this issue will also be resolved.
How does the FASTag work?
Following are the steps to understand how FASTag works:
- Step 1: Whenever any vehicle passes through the Electronic Toll Collection lane of the Toll Plaza, the Toll Plaza system will obtain the FASTag information, such as the Tag ID, Class of the vehicle class, and TID, The acquiring bank will receive all of these facts for processing.
- Step 2: In step two, the acquiring bank will now send a request to the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) Mapper. This is done to verify the tag information.
- Step 3: Following tag ID confirmation, NETC Mapper will provide information such as tag status, VRN, vehicle class, etc. Now, NETC Mapper will respond with "Tag ID not registered" if the tag is missing.
- Step 4: After determining the appropriate toll fee, the acquirer bank will send a debit request to the NETC system. After the NETC Mapper has verified the Tag ID, this is done.
- Step 5: After that, the NETC system switches the debit request to the appropriate issuer bank. This is done in order to debit the appropriate amount from the customer's account.
- Step 6: The issuer will debit the connected tag holder's account and send the holder an SMS alert to let them know. The issuer host will also transmit a message to the NETC system. If the response is not sent by the designated TAT, the transaction will be deemed to have been accepted.
- Step 7: The acquirer host will be informed of the response by the NETC system.
- Step 8: The acquirer host will then alert the appropriate toll plaza system of the situation.
How should I use my FASTags?
The vehicle identification tag must be opened once it has been delivered and then put in the center of the windscreen for easy viewing. At the toll booth, the scanner is positioned in the middle of the roof. The scanner will scan your FASTag and proceeds for next process.
How are FASTags purchased?
There are many ways from which you can purchase FASTag. The approved banks, including HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Syndicate Bank, IDFC Bank, SBI, and ICICI Bank, are where FASTags can be purchased. Additionally, these are offered at RTOs, Paytm, toll plazas, Common Service Centers, transportation hubs and a certain number of fixed gas stations.
Are FASTags expensive?
The cost of the FASTags is just INR100 if you choose to purchase them using PayTM. There is a threshold of INR 150 and a security deposit of INR 250. This implies that the total cost for each trip is INR 500. If you buy the tags from a bank, you must pay INR 100 for the FASTag, INR 200 for the security deposit, and INR 100–200 for the threshold amount, bringing the total to INR 400–500.
What paperwork is needed for the FASTag?
Basically, this is how FASTags are obtained. Owners must online upload vehicle RC documentation in order to use PayTM. Banks and toll booths require a number of documents. Providing the car registration certificate, KYC documentation, and a passport-size photo is required if the vehicle is registered in the owner's name. If the vehicle is registered under a corporate name, a proprietorship deed, the company's PAN card, and the signing authority's photo ID are needed.
How is the FASTag recharged?
You can quickly recharge FASTags using your online banking system, your debit or credit cards and you can also recharge it through NEFT or RTGS. You must enter your vehicle's information into the FASTag smartphone app. A FASTag is valid for a period of five years. The least recharge is INR 100, and the highest amount you can recharge for is INR 1 lakh. One FASTag is only good for one vehicle, therefore if you haven't finished your KYC, you won't be able to top off your FASTag account with more than INR 10,000. This means that a FASTag can only be used for a single vehicle.
Since FASTags are required starting on December 1st, 2019, you will be charged twice as much at toll booths if you don't install them by that date. Therefore, don't spend any time and immediately install the FASTag on your car.
The cost of the FASTags is just INR100 if you choose to purchase them using PayTM. There is a threshold of INR 150 and a security deposit of INR 250. This implies that the total cost for each trip is INR 500. If you buy the tags from a bank, you must pay INR 100 for the FASTag, INR 200 for the security deposit, and INR 100–200 for the threshold amount, bringing the total to INR 400–500.
Conclusion
FASTag plays a crucial role in saving your time. At present all transport companies use FASTag as an essential part of their business.
Opting for electronic toll payment and FASTag is quickly becoming a societal norm or tradition when you consider the advantages and how the government is promoting it. Studies in behavioural economics demonstrate that once an activity is accepted as a societal norm, people begin to perceive beyond its advantages. Having a loaded FASTag account before driving is on the verge of becoming a mandatory habit, just like keeping to the right of the queue or abiding by a 'No Smoking' sign.
Get a FASTag account today to take advantage of all of its features.