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How FASTag Works? and its pros and cons

Arjun JS

FASTag is a simple to use, rechargeable tag that enables automatic deduction of toll charges and lets your vehicle pass toll plaza without hassle for the cash payment. It is linked to a prepaid wallet from which the applicable toll amount is deducted. The tag includes Radio-frequency Identification (RFID) technology and is affixed on the vehicle’s windscreen after the tag account is active. It is a perfect solution for a hassle-free trip on national highways. Currently, it is operational at around 550+ toll plazas across national and state highways. More toll plazas will be brought under the FASTtag program in the future. You can check all the active toll plazas herein on the NHAI(National Highway Authority of India) Website.

How does it work?

What are the 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 for toll transactions, low balance, etc.
  • Online Portal for customers
  • The validity of 5 Years
  • Incentive: You can avail of a cashback of 10% on all Toll payments using FASTag in 2016-17

Other benefits like:

  • Reduced air pollution
  • Reduced use of paper
  • Reduced toll payment hassles
  • Analytics for better highway management
  • Reduced effort in management at the toll plaza
  • Reduced effort in monitoring centrally

FASTtag fraud: How scammers taking advantage of this?

According to reports, there have been many ways in which tool plazas are scamming with FASTtag, so to be safe from your side follow these steps when you are near the toll plaza.
1. Keep at least 3-4 meter distance from your car and the car which is under the FASTtag scanner in front of you, Because some times while reading the front car tag, if you are also too close to the RFID reader it immediately reads your tag also, when your turn comes for reading the tag, FASTtag rejects by saying invalid tag because in FASTtag system immediate second scan of FASTtag is not allowed. At that time toll plaza takes advantage of that and they will tell you to pay cash, this is happening because some times FASTtag system might send the SMS of deduction with delay and you should be aware of that.
2. Important rule you need to remember is if FASTtag is there in the toll plaza and it’s in non-working condition, then the NHAI rules say that the Toll plaza should open Free Gates and should not Collect Until FASTtag RFID starts working.

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For more guidelines visit: http://tis.nhai.gov.in/

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