FASTag, which was first used in India in 2014, has completely changed the way toll taxes are collected there. With the aid of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, drivers can pay their toll at the toll booth electronically with a FASTag card. This implies that FASTag-equipped vehicles do not need to stop at the toll plaza for the older manual cash transactions, saving both time and fuel.
In order to lessen unnecessary traffic on the nation roadways, the federal government made it mandatory for all vehicles utilising national highway toll plazas to pay tolls using FASTag.
Working of FASTag :
The card and the scanner are the two parts of the FASTag system. Typically, a cars windscreen is covered with the FASTag card, and scanners are positioned at toll booths along motorways. Using RFID technology, the card on the automobile communicates with the scanner at the toll booth. The required toll amount is automatically withdrawn from a bank account or prepaid wallet connected to the FASTag as soon as the vehicle crosses the toll plaza. The owner of the FASTag then receives an SMS notification about the money being deducted.
The alarm resembles the sound of money being taken out of a wallet or account. Owners must recharge or top up the FASTtag if it is connected to a prepaid account like a wallet or debit/credit card. However, if the tag is connected to a savings account, the funds are automatically taken out when the balance falls below a certain level. There is no expiration date associated with the FASTag balance amount. As long as the tag is unaltered and viewable at the toll booths, it may be used.
Ways to purchase it in offline mode :
Visit the point-of-sale (POS) terminals set up at the following places if you want to purchase FASTag in offline mode:
- Offices for Regional Transport (RTOs)
- all toll booths on national highways
- branches of 26 licenced banks that have been chosen
- traffic nexuses
- The establishment of almost 40,000 point-of-sale locations by 26 member banks