Shillong, Nov 21: National Electronic Toll Collection (FASTag) programme, the flagship initiative of MoRT&H and NHAI has been implemented on pan India basis in order to remove bottlenecks and ensure seamless movement of traffic and collection of user fee as per the notified rates, using passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology.
To give a major fillip to enhance digital payments and bring in enhanced transparency, the Ministry had mandated to declare all lanes of fee plazas on National Highways as “FASTag Lanes” by 1stDecember, 2019, while provisioning one lane (in each direction) which would be kept as hybrid lane to accept FASTag and other modes of payment.
In line with the Ministry’s mandate, NHAI has taken measures to ensure a smooth transition to 100% digital toll payments via FASTag w.e.f. 1st December, 2019. All pending lanes at NH fee plazas are targeted to be enabled with FASTag to meet the 1st December mandate.
As the December deadline approaches, conscientious decision has been taken to start the trial run of the FASTag mandate at identified NH fee plazas w.e.f. 1st November, 2019 onwards and progressively increasing to all toll plazas. Nodal officers have been designated for NH fee plazas to closely monitor implementation of FASTag mandate and the trial run and to take necessary measures to remove any bottlenecks identified.
Nodal officers and regional officers share the learning experience with others. Daily Video Conferences/Review meetings are being conducted under the Chairmanship of the Chairman NHAI with all concerned ROs and official of NHAI HQ and IHMCL for review of the preparedness of the 1st December mandate.
During trial run each vehicle without FASTag are approached and appraised of the benefit and are offered FASTag at the 4 locations of Toll plazas in Meghalaya.
As on date, FASTag may be purchased from over 28,500 Point-of-Sale locations set up by various banks and IHMCL/HNAI which includes all NH fee plazas, RTOs, Common Service Centres, transport hubs, bank branches, selected petrol pumps, etc. For retail segment car,jeep, van FASTag may be purchased online on Amazon and by visiting websites of different member banks.
Such as SBI, ICICI bank, Axis Bank, Paytm Payment Banks, HDFC bank, IDFC First bank, etc For detail list of member banks, visit www.ihmcl.com). FASTag have also been made available at over 12,000 banks branches of prominent private sector banks like ICICI bank, Axis Bank, HDFC bank, etc. At all 4 toll plaza, POS agencies are already placed at Pahammawlein Toll Plaza, Diengpasoh Toll Plaza, Pasyih Toll Plaza and Lumshnong Toll Plaza. To search for the nearest point-of-sale locations one may download My FASTag App or visit www.ihmcl.com or call 1033 NH Helpline number.
For recharge facility, NHAI/IHMCL has developed UPI recharge facility via My FASTag App. FASTag can also be recharged by visiting respective bank’s portal through net-banking, credit/debit card, UPI and other popular means of payment.
It may be noted that as per Government Gazette Notification, any vehicle user without a FASTag entering into a “FASTag lane” at a NH fee plaza shall have to pay a fee equivalent to two times of the applicable fees to the category of vehicle.
It is also worth mentioning that MoRTH and NHAI had also conducted a national campaign on “One Nation One Tag – FASTag” on 14th October, 2019 in order to popularise FASTag adoption in non-NH toll plazas in august presence of Hon’ble Union Minister, Shri. Nitin Gadkari and other Ministers and dignitaries of Central and State Government officials.
