To boost transparency, efficiency and monetization of toll collections, Indian Government has decided to accelerate electronic toll collection and digital payments on roads and highways nationwide through Digital Toll Payments with the use of FASTags and RFID.   

“With effect from December 1, we expect all lanes of National Highways to accept FASTag, the electronic tolling system,” said Nitin Gadkari, Road Transport and Highways Minister. “Use of FASTag will lower queueing time at toll plazas. This will also be good from a security perspective for the Home Ministry as the details of the person in the vehicle as well as who is travelling from where to where will also be available,” added Gadkari. The ministry has also announced that all the states using different toll collecting technology have to use FASTags which will store all vehicle data from registration to class to engine and chassis number. FASTags will also stow data related to vehicle compliance, such as insurance and pollution. 

The nodal roads agency of the Center - National Highways Authority of India - with collaboration with National Payments Corporation of India have created NETC ( National Electronic Toll Collection) which will enable digital toll payments through FASTags fixed on widescreen and RFID Technology. This will be used to enable vehicles to make payments even while moving by integrating unique identification number for each vehicle. NETC’s toll payment system will enable customers to make payments from bank accounts which will be linked with FASTags. This is set to deliver a seamless traffic and prevent congestion at toll plazas while significantly increase public funding on highway projects which is one of the most capital-intensive projects.   

As per the reports, National Highways Authority of India has already sold more than 96 lakh FASTags. The vehicle drivers were allowed to pay by cash at toll plazas until 15^th of this month so as to integrate FASTags in all of the vehicles. The report also showed that the POS will increase from 28,000 to 50,000 by this month and parking at Hyderabad is also said to start accepting FASTags.