The Ministry of Road and Transport has ordered the implementation of FASTag device on all cars sold from 1st December.
Come 1st December 2017, all new cars sold in India should mandatorily be fitted with a FASTag device on their windscreens. The Ministry of Road Transport has ordered the implementation of this new rule. The notification also reads that in case any vehicle is sold in the form of drive-away-chassis without a windscreen, FASTags will have to be fitted on the windscreen by the owner before the registration of the vehicle.
So what is this FASTag device? Let us explain. This is a device equipped with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for making toll payments directly from a linked prepaid or savings account. This device is affixed on to the windscreen of the vehicle and enables you to drive through toll plazas without stopping for cash payments. As the vehicle crosses a toll plaza, the toll amount will be automatically deducted from the linked account and a message will be sent to a linked mobile number.
The linked account has to be recharged (online through Credit/Debit Card or NEFT or RTGS or Net Banking) as and when required. A FASTag will be valid for a period of 5 years. Post implementation of this rule, users will be required to link their tag to their accounts through a digital payment form and only then a vehicle will be eligible for registration.
So, now the question is, what happens to cars sold before 1st December and the ones currently running on roads? Well, you can buy the tags yourselves at toll offices of NHAI that can be mounted on the windscreens of your vehicles. However, it isn’t mandatory though, as old vehicle owners aren’t required by law to buy the device. If and only if, you want to save time you can get the tags.
FASTag Device Mandatory
– FASTag device to be mandatory on all new cars sold from 1st December
– The device comes fitted to the windscreen of a vehicle
– FASTag device employs Radio Frequency Identification
– This new initiative will save time as it doesn’t require the driver to stop at a toll plaza
