The Union Transport Ministry has stated that customers will soon be able to purchase FASTags at petrol pumps operated by state-run oil firms across the country, reports Financial Express (FE).
“To ensure easier availability of FASTags, Indian Highways Management Company (IHMCL) is signing MoUs with state-run oil marketing companies (IOCL, BPCL and HPCL) on January 7, 2019,” said the Ministry.
IHMCL, which has been tasked with rolling out the FASTag scheme in the country, works under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The Ministry added that in the first phase, the FASTags would be made available at fifty fuel stations in Delhi NCR.
“Recent government measures like proposed FASTag–GST integration and FASTag acceptance at all toll plazas in India have led to an urgent need of scaling up the FASTag marketing channels. These MoUs will help IHMCL to cater to the evolving market expectations,” the Ministry noted.
What is a FASTag?
It is a device that employs Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for making toll payments directly from the prepaid or savings account linked to it. FASTag is attached to the windscreen of a vehicle and enables one to drive through toll plazas, without stopping for cash transactions.
The government has mandated that all new vehicles sold in India after 1 October 2017, will be affixed with an active FASTag. All lanes of all 371 NHAI toll plazas in the country accept these tags.
Also Read: FASTag Was Always The Solution To Getting Past Toll Plazas, Not VIP Lanes