New Delhi: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has asked NIC to collect FASTag details of all vehicles while providing registration or issuing fitness certificate.
As per a letter to NIC, the ministry has informed that the VAHAN system now gets all information on FASTags through VIN/VRN (vehicle identification number/vehicle registration number) as the integration of National Election Toll Centre (NETC) with VAHAN portal has been completed.
“But the integration with bank account or they being activated was being avoided by citizens, which would be checked now. Fitment of FASTag is to ensure that vehicles crossing the National Highway fee plazas use electronic medium of FASTag payment, avoiding cash payments. This usage and promotion of FASTag will also be effective in minimising possibilities of spreading COVID-19 at NH Toll Plazas,” the statement said.
According to a report in the Hindustan Times, 1.68 crore FASTags have been issued across the country till the beginning of May 2020.
FASTag employs radio frequency identification (RFID) technology for making toll payments on national highways directly from the prepaid or savings account linked to it.
The tag, fixed on the vehicles’ windscreen, allows automated deduction of toll charges, and lets any vehicle pass through a toll plaza with zero human contact.
The fitment of FASTag in new vehicles at the time of sales of vehicles of category M and N was made mandatory in 2017.