In order to prevent congestion at toll plazas, the government has made FASTag mandatory for all vehicles in the country from the new year. While addressing a virtual function, Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Nitin Gadkari said, FASTag will be enforced from January 1, 2021. Also Read: TRP Scam: Former CEO Of Rating Agency BARC Arrested

How it will benefit commuters?

FASTag is useful for commuters as they wont require to stop at toll plazas for cash payments besides saving time and fuel. The FASTags were launched in the year 2016, and four banks together issued nearly a lakh of them. By 2017, their numbers went up to seven lakh. Over 34 lakh FASTags were issued in 2018, according to a release.

A notification issued in November made FASTag mandatory from January 1, 2021, in old vehicles sold before December 1, 2017, through amendments in CMVR, 1989.

As per Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, since December 1, 2017, the FASTag had been made mandatory for all registration of new four-wheeled vehicles and is being supplied by the vehicle manufacturer or their dealers.

What are other changes?

In fact, the renewal of fitness certificate will be done only after the fitment of FASTag for the Transport Vehicles. For National Permit Vehicles, the fitment of FASTag was mandated since 1st October 2019.

A valid FASTag is mandatory while getting new third party insurance through an amendment in FORM 51 (certificate of Insurance), wherein the details of FASTag ID will be captured. This shall be applicable April 1, 2021.

"This would be a major step for ensuring that the payment of fees be 100 per cent at toll plazas through the Electronic Means only and that the vehicles pass seamlessly through the Fee Plazas. There would be no waiting time at the Plazas and would save fuel," the Ministry said, as per news agency ANI.

The steps for ensuring the availability of FASTag at multiple channels are being made through physical locations and also through online mechanisms so that the citizens are able to have them affixed at their vehicles within the next two months at their convenience, it added.