FASTag Made Mandatory To Avail Discount On Toll Charges

On Tuesday, the road transport and highways ministry said it has made the use of electronic toll collection device FASTag mandatory for availing any discount in toll charges, including a return journey within 24 hours. The step has been taken to encourage the adoption of digital payments.

"In order to further promote digital payments on the fee plazas on the national highways, it is decided that discount for users who make return journey within 24 hours and all other local exemptions shall be provided only if the vehicle carries a valid functional FASTag," an official statement said.

"For discount on return journey within 24 hours, it would be through FASTag or such other device and automatic and no requirement for a pass. For discounts on all other cases, having a valid FASTag is made necessary," it said.

FASTag is an initiative introduced by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) in association with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for making automated payment deductions at toll plazas using prepaid rechargeable tags that work on RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology.