FASTag deadline extended by govt: Here's everything you need to know about it

The government has now extended the deadline for mandatory FasTags for vehicles from January 1, 2021 to February 15, 2021 and that is the date by which you will have to buy it or else you could be penalised. The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had earlier issued a notification making a FASTag mandatory for all four-wheel vehicles from January 1, 2021. FASTag has become mandatory for M and N class four-wheelers sold before December 1, 2017. For this, the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 were amended. The ministry issued a notification regarding this on November 6. If you have not installed one in your car yet, here’s everything you need to know about FASTag.

The National Highways Act, 1956 is an Act of parliament under Entry 23 of List I to the Schedule VII of the Constitution of India. The parliament has exclusive power to legislate in respect of National Highways. The Act was brought into provided for a declaration of certain Highways to be National Highways and for matter connected therein. Section 9 of the National Highways Act, 1956 gives power to the Central Government to make Rules for carrying out the purpose of the Act. Under Section 9(1)(b), the Central Government can by notification in the official gazette make Rules for collection of fee for use of the sections of National Highways. In exercise of such power, the Central Government has by notification dated 05.12.2008, brought out the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. Rule 2(9) of the said Rule defines Toll plaza, means any building, structure or booth made for collection of fee. Rule 3 gives the power to levy a fee for use of any section of National Highway. Rule 9 provides for discounts that can be given to vehicles which cross the toll plaza number of times within a specified period.

On 08.06.2016, the 2008 Rule was amended by the National Highways Fee Determination of Rates and Collection) Amendment Rules, 2016 (hereinafter called as 2016 Rules). Under the said Rule, Clause 2(ga) was introduced after Clause 2(g). Clause 2(ga) of the said Rules provides-(ga) “fee plaza” means any building, structure or booth made for collection of fee”.Clause 2(hb) was substituted, namely:-

“(hb) “FASTag lane of fee plaza” is an exclusive lane in the fee plaza for movement of vehicles fitted with “FASTag” or any such devices “The amendment rules also provided that the word “toll plaza” in Rule 6, Rule 8, Rule 9 and Rule 10 of the 2008 Rules will be substituted by “fee plaza”.

What are FASTags?

FASTag is an electronic toll collection system in India, operated by the National Highway Authority of India(NHAI). It employs Radio Frequency Identification

(RFID) technology for making toll payments directly from the prepaid or savings account linked to it or directly from the toll owner introduced by the Government of India in October 2017 by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway. It is affixed on the windscreen of the vehicle and enables to drive through toll plazas without stopping for transactions. The tag can be purchased from official Tag issuers or participating Banks and if it is linked to a prepaid account, then recharging or top-up can be as per requirement. The sticker is RFID enabled and has a barcode that can be scanned via FASTag readers at toll plaza across India’s national highways. The authorities can get all the details related to the vehicle via this scan and the toll payment is made electronically from the prepaid balance. The drivers are urged to recharge the FASTag either at the 720 toll plazas installed across the national highways or via online payment methods such as Paytm. One can collect the FASTags at their local bank’s branch. The FASTags are violable with HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Bank, Paytm Payments Bank, and IDFC First Bank. One needs to provide the photo identification and car registration documents and other mandatory KYC procedure documents to collect the FASTags at the toll plaza of any highway in India. Drivers can also make a purchase from Amazon. in, or at the nearest local bank, including Paytm bank.

FASTag is presently operational at 240+ toll plazas across National Highways. More toll plazas will be brought under the FASTag program in the future.

What are the Documents which you need to Submit during Application?

In order to apply for a FASTag card, you would need to submit your KYC documents – identity proof and residential proof. The KYC documents which you need to submit vary from one bank to another.

In addition to it, you also need to submit your vehicle’s registration certificate (RC) and your passport size photo. These documents are irrespective of whether you avail the card online or offline.

Benefits of Using FASTag:

Ease of payment No need to carry cash for the toll transactions saves time

Near non-stop movement of vehicles leading to lower fuel cost.

Online Recharge FASTag can be recharged online through Credit Card / Debit Card / NEFT/ RTGS or Net banking

SMS alerts are sent to the FASTag holder for toll transactions, low balance, etc.

It has an online Portal for customers.

Your FASTag has a validity of 5 Years.

Environmental benefits like reduced air pollution and less use of paper is beneficial.

Social benefit like less time taking toll payment is hassle-free and analytics for better highway management

Economic benefit like the reduced effort in management at the toll plaza and the reduced effort in monitoring centrally is also beneficial

What is the Process of Card Activation?

Once you have bought a FASTag, you will have to activate it to make it functional. There are two ways to activate FASTags-1.Self-Activation and 2. Activate by visiting a bank branch.

What is meant by activation?

Activation implies the registration of the card with your vehicle along with a linked payment method. This payment method can either be a digital wallet or any bank account (savings or current).

In the event you purchase the card from Amazon, you will be provided with a blank FASTag sticker. Next, you will need to register the card with your vehicle and then add a payment method to it from your end once you receive it.

How do you do it?

You will need to download the “My FASTag” app, which is available for both Android and Apple devices. You can get it from Google’s Play Store or Apple’s App Store.

Once you download the app, follow the steps mentioned below:

In the homepage, you will find the option “Activate NHAI FASTag”; click on it.

On the next page, click on “Activate NHAI FASTag bought Online”.

In the following page, click on “Scan QR code” wherein you will need to scan the QR code provided on your FASTag card.

Once that is done, you will need to provide details of your vehicle, which includes – vehicle registration number, vehicle type, etc. as mentioned there.

Subsequently, you need to link a payment method to your FASTag card.

And you are done!

In addition to bank accounts and digital wallets such as Paytm or Amazon wallet, you also have the option to link your card with the NHAI wallet. This wallet is available on the “My FASTag” app.

Following its activation, your toll booth payments will be deducted from the payment method you have linked. You will get an SMS in your registered mobile number along with relevant details whenever the card is utilised.

This article has been authored by a lawyer who wished to remain anonymous