FASTag explained

FASTag
Logo Alt:	FASTag Logo
Type:	Electronic toll collection Fuel purchase payment Parking fees^[1] National Park Entry Fees^[2]
Predecessors:	-->
Successors:	-->
Founders:	-->
Hq Location City:	Dwarka, Delhi
Hq Location Country:	India
Area Served:	Pan-India
Products:	RFID Tags
Owner:	Indian Highways Management Company Limited
Parent:	Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

FASTag is an electronic toll collection system in India, operated by the National Highways 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 toll owner. It is affixed on the windscreen of the vehicle and enables one to drive through toll plazas without stopping for transactions. The tag can be purchased from official Tag issuers or participating Banks which are Made in India and if it is linked to a prepaid account, then recharging or top-up can be as per requirement. The minimum recharge amount is and can be done online.^[3] As per NHAI, FASTag has unlimited validity. 7.5% cashback offers were also provided to promote the use of FASTag. Dedicated Lanes at some Toll plazas have been built for FASTag.

In January 2019, state-run oil marketing companies IOC, BPCL and HPCL have signed MoUs enabling the use of FASTag to make purchases at petrol pumps.

As of September 2019, FASTag lanes are available on over 500 national and state highways and over 54.6 lakh (5.46 million) cars are enabled with FASTag.^[4] Starting 1 January 2021, FASTag was to be mandatory for all vehicles but later the date was postponed to 15 February 2021.^[5] FASTag transactions were valued at ₹5,559.91 crore in January 2024 with 33.138 crore in volume terms.^[6]

Timeline

• The system was initially set up as a pilot project in 2014 on the stretch of the Golden Quadrilateral between Ahmedabad and Mumbai.
• The system was implemented on the Delhi - Mumbai arm of the Quadrilateral on 4 November 2014.
• In July 2015, toll plazas on the Chennai - Bangalore stretch of the Golden Quadrilateral started accepting FASTag payments.
• By April 2016, FASTag was rolled out to 247 toll plazas on national highways across India, representing 70% of all toll plazas in the country at the time.
• By 23 November 2016, 347 fee plazas out of 366 on national highways across the country accept FASTag payments.
• On 1 October 2017, the NHAI launched a FASTag lane in all 370 toll plazas under its ambit.
• On 8 November 2017, it was followed up by making FASTag mandatory on all new vehicles sold in India after December 2017.
• On 19 October 2019, it was announced that FASTag will be mandatory on all National Highways from 1 December 2019 and non-FASTag users will be charged double the toll.^[7]
• During November, GMR Hyderabad International Airport launches FASTag Car Park facility.^{[8] [9]}
• On 15 December 2019, FASTag became mandatory throughout India.^[10]
• 600+ Toll Plazas are now connected with FASTag. Many more are in queue to connect very soon.
• On 1 January 2021, FASTag was made mandatory at every toll plaza in the country.^[11] but later the date was postponed to 15 February 2021.
• Starting 1 February 2024, NHAI stated that only the most recent FASTag account will remain operational, while earlier tags will be deactivated or blacklisted.^[12]

Toll Gate Payment collection status [2017-2022]^{[13] [14]}

Period	Toll Gate Payment collection status Total(Cr.)	Fastag Method collection (Cr.)
2016-17	17942.14	871
2017-18	21948.13	3532
2018-19	24396.20	5956
2019-20	26850.71	10957
2020-21	27744.15	25291
2021-22	34535	33274

External links

• Webpage for FASTag on NHAI website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Now, pay parking fees through FASTag at Ahmedabad airport | Here's how to use the facility . 29 May 2023 . 16 June 2023 . 16 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230616060752/https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/industry/now-pay-parking-fees-through-fastag-at-ahmedabad-airport-heres-how-to-use-the-facility-article-100600630 . live .
2. Web site: Tamil Nadu forest dept starts collecting entry fee through 'FASTag' at Doddabetta . 16 June 2023 . 16 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230616055251/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2023/jun/11/tamil-nadu-forest-dept-starts-collecting-entry-fee-through-fastag-at-doddabetta-2583867.html . live .
3. Web site: FAQs on NETC FASTag. 27 December 2021. 27 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211227020104/https://www.npci.org.in/what-we-do/netc-fastag/faqs. live.
4. Web site: These innovations are helping digital payments go mass . https://web.archive.org/web/20190921041258/https://www.sify.com/finance/these-innovations-are-helping-digital-payments-go-mass-news-business-tjss5Udgbefib.html . dead . 21 September 2019 . . 21 September 2019 . en.
5. News: Radhakrishnan. S. Anil. 19 November 2020. FASTag mandatory for all four-wheelers from Jan. 1. en-IN. The Hindu. 25 December 2020. 0971-751X. 29 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201229000405/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/fastag-mandatory-for-all-four-wheelers/article33136020.ece. live.
6. Web site: 2024-02-02 . UPI transactions touches Rs 18.41 lakh crore in January, shows NPCI data . 2024-02-04 . Moneycontrol . en.
7. Web site: Insight 18 | FASTags mandatory for vehicles on national highways from Dec 1, here's how it will ease traffic. 19 October 2019. 23 October 2019. 23 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191023035141/https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/insight-18-fastags-mandatory-for-vehicles-on-national-highways-from-dec-1-heres-how-it-will-ease-traffic-4549301.html/amp. live.
8. Web site: GMR Hyderabad International Airport introduces FASTag Car Park facility. Somasekhar. M.. @businessline. 17 November 2019. en. 26 November 2019. 18 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191118153715/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/gmr-hyderabad-international-airport-introduces-fastag-car-park-facility/article29998409.ece. live.
9. Web site: Hyderabad airport launches FASTag parking. 22 November 2019. LiveMint. en. 26 November 2019. 23 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191123145908/https://www.livemint.com/news/india/hyderabad-airport-launches-fastag-parking-11574411495829.html. live.
10. News: FASTag will become mandatory from December 15, 2019 . The Economic Times . 2 December 2019 . en . Dubey . Navneet . 20 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200720050114/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/save/fastag-mandatory-for-all-vehicles-from-dec-1-heres-how-to-buy-activate-it/articleshow/72126974.cms . live .
11. News: Reddy . Ravi . FASTag at toll plazas must from January 1 . The Hindu . en-IN . 7 December 2020 . 26 December 2020 . 22 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201222115531/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/fastag-at-toll-plazas-must-from-jan-1/article33273609.ece . live .
12. Web site: 2024-01-31 . KYC your FASTag before deadline 31st January 2024 NHAI . 2024-01-31 . en-US.
13. News: Tollgate vs Fastag collection. The Times of India. 7 August 2022. 7 Aug 2022. 7 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220807055954/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/fastag-in-the-fast-lane-spike-in-adoption-lifts-toll-collection-past-rs-33k-cr/articleshow/93403643.cms. live.
14. Web site: Toll gate collection Yearwise. businesstoday.in. 15 December 2021. 15 Dec 2021. 15 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211215100246/https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/economy/story/fastag-based-toll-collection-rose-55-from-2016-17-to-2022-21-says-govt-315682-2021-12-15. live.