NEW DELHI: The central government on Sunday released a statement saying that automatic toll plaza payment system FASTag will become mandatory from February 15. Vehicles that have not been fitted with FASTag or have a tag that does not work will be charged double toll fee for the category of the vehicle that is being driven.
The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways in a statement said that all lanes in the fee plazas on National Highways will be declared as FASTag lane of the fee plaza from midnight of 15th February 2021.
The statement released by Press Information Bureau said, "As per NH Fee Rules 2008, any vehicle not fitted with FASTag or vehicle without valid, functional FASTag entering into the FASTag lane of the fee plaza shall pay a fee equivalent to two times of the fee applicable to that category."
The government said the complete change to FASTag will help promote fee payment through a digital transaction, reduce waiting time and fuel consumption, and provide for a smooth passage through fee plazas.
The Transport Ministry had instructed FASTag in "M and N" categories of vehicles. M category is for vehicles with at least four wheels used for carrying passengers. N category is for vehicles with four wheels used for carrying goods as well as passengers. The Ministry had directed fitting of FASTag in M&N categories of motor vehicles with effect from 1st January 2021.
FASTag is now compulsory for M and N class four-wheelers sold before December 1, 2017. The ministry had issued a notification earlier regarding the same.
Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday said the deadline for using FASTag would not be extended and vehicle owners should immediately use the e-payment facility.
FASTag was introduced in 2016. Gadkari said the government had extended the FASTag registration date limit several times before, and now it would not be extended anymore.