FASTAG: If you also travel by means of the highway and were annoyed by the hassle of FASTag, this news is meant for you. Beginning from March 1, 2025, the system of FASTag will close down and there shall be a fresh mode of payment of toll tax. The government has decided to implement an automatic system of deducting the toll tax, due to which the ride shall become smoother. Let us tell you how the fresh system shall work, what you shall gain out of it, and what you must remember.
The journey of FASTag – Why it is being phased out
FASTag was rolled out in India way back in 2016, with the objective of decongesting the toll plazas as well as enabling greater use of digital payments. But over the last two years, various problems have crept into it:
- FASTag is not being checked by many, due to this, vehicles get stopped.
- Some people started using duplicate or fake FASTags.
- Many FASTag users have unnecessarily been overcharged.
- Vehicles which do not have balance are stopped at the toll plaza, which increases traffic.
To overcome these problems, the government has prepared a fresh system of collecting tolls, one that shall be smarter and convenient.
How will tax on tolls be collected from March 1, 2025?
The government has implemented the “Automatic Number Plate Recognition System” (ANPR). In this system, the toll gets automatically deducted by reading the number plate. In other words, there shall not be any tag nor the hassle of balance checking.
How will this system work?
- Scanning with camera – High-resolution cameras shall also be installed at the toll plaza, which shall scan the number plate of your vehicle.
- Matching with the database – Your car number will be matched with the government database, whereby it will show us in whose name this car has been registered.
- Automatic payment – The fare shall automatically deduct from your bank account, wallet, or attached UPI.
- Fast entry-exit – You will be able to cross the toll easily without stopping.
This system has previously been rolled out across various European and American countries, and it shall also be rolled out by India.
Benefits of the new toll system
- Travel without stopping – Now there will no longer be any waiting in line at the booth.
- Protection from fraud – No one shall use forgery or duplication of FASTag.
- Accurate payment – The longer you ride, the longer you pay, no added fees.
- Cashless and paperless system – Transactions shall be conducted digitally, giving transparency.
- Less pollution – The stoppage congestion produced by stopping at the toll booth, as well as air pollution produced by the stop-and-starting of vehicles, will fall.
Do you need to do anything differently?
No, the government automatically link this system to your car registration number. But you need to remember these facts:
- Your vehicle’s number plate should be a high-security registration plate (HSRP).
- Your bank account or UPI identity has to be attached to the vehicle, so you can pay.
- If your vehicle has an old registration number, you may need it changed.
What will happen if you have little money in your account?
Many people will have this question in mind that if there is no money in the account, then what? In this case, the government can implement some special regulations:
- Only an alarm shall be raised if it is the initial time the balance has lowered.
- A warning shall be issued second time and time shall also be provided so that payment shall be made.
- Those who repeatedly default payments shall be fined, while their vehicles shall also be blacklisted.
Real life scenario – how does it change your journey?
Case Study 1: Journey of Amit
Amit travels from Gurugram to Delhi daily and spends 5-10 minutes waiting at the toll booth daily. Many times, as the FASTag does not get read, he has to pay by cash or an extra charge gets debited.
But after March, 2025, when the system of ANPR comes into operation, they shall have the benefit of traveling through the gate without stopping and no further fee shall be charged.
Case Study 2: Seema’s troubles end
Seema often found herself stuck at the toll booth due to the balance in the FASTag depleting. Often there was also an issue while making payments due to the inability to get OTP.
But now, owing to the introduction of the new number plate reading system, there shall not be any balance checking by Seema for the FASTag, and the payment shall automatically get debited from the account.
What other changes are possible in the future?
The government continuously attempts to refine this system. A few possible changes could be:
- GPS based system – that implies the toll shall only be collected based on the distance travelled by you.
- Expansion of electronic tolling – In the future, this type of tolling can also be collected even in the cities.
- Fast and intelligent road network – so that traffic flow can be even smoother.
Is this helpful to you?
From March 1, 2025, the FASTag system is ending and the new ANPR based tolling system is coming.
This system not only keeps traffic congestion minimal but also provides individuals an intelligent, cashless traveling experience.
- If your car number plate does not carry an HSRP, replace it as soon as possible.
- Link the bank account number so there is no hassle while paying the toll.
The new system signifies a huge leap toward Indian roads becoming smarter, modern.