What Is Fastag And How To Recharge It

By Author: ArjitChalmela
Total Articles: 15
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Travelling via roads is marred with one problem, long queues at toll booths taking both time and wasting fuel. To minimize hassles to the consumer and facilitate electronic toll collection, the country is shifting from physical collection of tolls to electronic collection. This is possible through a radio technology called Fastag.

Fastag is an electronic toll collection mechanism where the toll amount is directly debited from your bank account. It isn’t like the debit card, but it can be pre-loaded with a certain amount and on being scanned, the amount is debited from the balance loaded on the card. It is proposed to have scanners on toll booths which will scan the tag placed in the vehicle windshield. This scanning will be done through RFID or radio technology. The scanner will automatically read the information in the Fastag and debit the toll amount. The users can refill their Fastag account using BHIM UPI and net banking. It is important to link one bank account to the electronic tag. The scanners at the toll will be manual or will be placed overhead. Operation of Fastag at toll booths in the country has already ...
... begun, with a nationwide rollout started from January 15.

Fastag can be bought from the toll booth, from NHAI, from online companies, local RTOs or from banks. Banks are currently waiving off charges for the tag. KYC documentation will have to be submitted to the bank to process the Fastag account. However, a security deposit needs to be maintained on the Fastag. The users also need to maintain a minimum deposit in the Fastag to keep it operational.

At present, if a vehicle does not have the Fastag, they have to pay double the toll amount.

How to recharge?

The process to recharge Fastag is very simple. You can recharge it online through:

Internet banking
BHIM UPI
Google Pay
Credit card
Debit card
NEFT
RTGS

The Government is working on enabling a cash recharge option for people as well. At present, there is a 2.5% cashback on the recharge that is done electronically. However, to recharge Fastag, you need to create an account in the Fastag app. This depends on where you have purchased your Fastag. If you have purchased it through a bank then the bank has its own Fastag app. If you have purchased it through an e-commerce platform, RTO or NHAI, there is the My Fastag app. You will need to create a registration in the app and activate your account.

Once your activation is done, you need to do Fastag login and then go to the recharge option. Once you click the Recharge option, there are different fund transfer methods. Choose the method of your choice and do the recharge.