Tollgate charges to be collected through FASTag Electronic System from 1st December!
Posted on: 30/Sep/2019 6:10:29 PM
A new system of payment of tollgate charges all over the country is set to be implemented from 1st December.
In order to reduce the unnecessarily long time and waiting period for the payment of tollgate charges and also to solve other problems in the present system, the electronic system of collecting tollgate charges, known as ‘FASTag’, is being implemented from 1st December all over the country.
The central government had already notified regarding this proposed change in July itself.
There are 522 tollgates installed throughout the country. There are 48 tollgates in the state of Tamil Nadu.
On average, around 1.40 Crores of vehicles pass through these tollgates every day!
Tollgate charges are collected from all types of cars, goods vehicle, and public passenger vehicles passing.
In order to reduce the time-delay and waiting in the tollgates and the resultant traffic jams, also the arguments/fights/scraps with the tollgate staff/officials and the ensuing violence, the system of collecting tollgate charges in cash is being given up from 1st December.
Instead, a new electronic system, FASTag is being implemented throughout the country.
FASTag
FASTag sticker is designed to operate using RFID (Radio waves) for the payment transactions.
This sticker will be fixed on the vehicle windshield mirror.\. The sensors installed in the tollgates will scan the FASTag sticker and receive the payment.
How to get FASTag?
Special FASTag centres have been set up in each tollgate. By submitting a Xerox copy of the vehicle registration, the FaSTag sticker can be obtained.
Recharge for FASTag sticker
FASTag sticker can be recharged using credit cards, debit cards, NEFT/RTGS or net-banking from Rs. 100 to a maximum of Rs. 10000. However, the amount recharged to FASTag sticker cannot be refunded. Further, payment made for a vehicle made through FASTag cannot be used for other vehicles.
Collection of tollgate charges through scanning
The scanners installed in tollgates will scan the FASTag sticker and take the tollgate payment charges. Further, the vehicle will be allowed to pass the tollgate only if the vehicle registration number in the number plate of the vehicle matches with the number entered on FASTag sticker!
It has also been announced that double the tollgate charges will be collected from the vehicles that pass without the FASTag sticker. This new system will facilitate prompt catching of the criminals/offenders who try to escape with these vehicles.
