How does a FASTag work?
A FASTag is a tag you can stick on your vehicle's windshield. It employs RFID or Radio Frequency Identification technology to electronically deduct payments from a user’s digital FASTag wallet.
You can buy your FASTag wallet online via one of the issuer banks. Then, not only can you automatically pay your toll payments but monitor your toll booth expenses online as well.
FASTag Mobile App Features and Functionalities
The FASTag mobile app offers a convenient way to manage your FASTag account on your phone. It allows you to access essential services without having to visit website portals. Some of the key features include:
Recharges
Quickly recharge your linked FASTag wallet through the app via UPI, cards, net banking, etc.
Set low balance alerts to be notified when the wallet needs a recharge
View the history and receipts of all wallet recharge transactions
Payment Alerts
Get instant SMS notifications whenever the toll fee is deducted
The alert shows toll plaza location, date/time and deducted amount
Helps reconcile toll spending through monthly statements
Trip History
The app provides a summary of all trips via toll plazas
Details include toll plaza name, date of passage, fees paid
Other Features
Track FASTag wallet balance 24x7
Manage vehicles linked to your FASTag account
Raise complaints and get customer care assistance
The app is a one-stop solution for monitoring the FASTag wallet, recharging it instantly, and tracking toll payments on the go. With an easy-to-use interface, it aims to help customers manage their accounts and payments seamlessly without hassles. Critical utilities like low balance alerts and payment notifications enhance the overall convenience.
How FASTag helps reduce congestion at toll plazas
Manual toll payment causes congestion
Waiting in long queues at toll plazas is frustrating for drivers. Every vehicle must stop at the toll booth so the driver can pay the fees manually in cash. The entire cash exchange process, including providing change back and issuing receipts, is time-consuming. As vehicles wait for their turn, congestion builds up, especially during peak hours, and traffic flow is severely impacted.
FASTag enables automated toll transactions
FASTag addresses this congestion issue through automatic fee collection. Vehicles are fitted with RFID tags linked to a digital wallet. Dedicated FASTag lanes have overhead RFID readers that automatically detect the tag and deduct the applicable toll fees without human intervention. The transaction happens digitally instantly as vehicles drive through, and there is no need to stop for even a few seconds.
Smooth traffic flow with FASTag
The automated fee collection mechanism of FASTag ensures that vehicles fitted with it do not have to stop at toll plazas. There is no queuing up behind vehicles going through manual cash lanes. Traffic can continue flowing at average highway speeds even through busy tolls. This seamless movement has significantly increased the throughput capacity of toll plazas, allowing them to handle 50-60% higher traffic volumes.
Saves time and enhances productivity
Smooth traffic movement through toll plazas enabled by FASTag saves thousands of productive hours previously wasted by commuters and goods carriers stuck in jams. Vehicles reach destinations faster without delays due to manual toll payment congestion. Reduced travel time has a positive impact on economic productivity across transportation sectors.
Benefits of a FASTag
Apart from being mandated by the government, there are other reasons why you should use a FASTag.
Economic advantages of a FASTag
With a FASTag, you don’t need to stop at toll booths for cash payments. This results in various economic benefits, as mentioned below.
Fuel efficiency
With FASTag payments, you don’t have to start and stop your car frequently at a toll plaza, which increases fuel efficiency. The improved fuel efficiency also helps to maintain the engine’s health.
Moreover, drivers don’t need to drive fast to cover for the time consumed at toll booths’ long queues. It helps to save money on fuel and vehicle maintenance in the long run.
Cheaper transportation
As fuel efficiency improves, it reduces the cost of transporting goods through highways. Smooth moving traffic helps with the on-time delivery of goods, which also keeps the transportation cost in check.
Tracking toll expenses
FASTag allows you to monitor the expenses at toll booths digitally. You can decide how much money you want to recharge in your FASTag wallet. Plus, you get an SMS notification on your registered mobile number after every toll payment deduction.
Also, read: How to Check FASTag Balance
Environmental advantages of a FASTag
Apart from convenience and economic benefits, FASTags also help to keep environmental pollution in check in the following ways.
Lower carbon emissions
FASTag payment eliminates the possibility of long traffic jams at toll booths, and in turn, it saves a lot of fuel for all vehicle drivers. It also results in reduced carbon emissions. The government expects to decrease India’s carbon footprint by approximately 35% by 2030 using the FASTag toll payment system.
Paperless payments
Apart from decreasing carbon emissions, FASTags also benefit the environment by enabling paperless toll payments. Excessive use of paper leads to deforestation, which negatively impacts rainfall, soil conditions, and global warming. Using the electronic payment system lowers the expense of papers used to create cash and toll payment receipts.
Reduced noise pollution
No one likes to hear noise or honking in traffic jams at toll plazas. FASTag’s swift payment approach reduces noise pollution by seamlessly flowing traffic across the booths.
Security features of FASTag
Secure Transactions in Indian Conditions
FASTag integrates multiple layers of security to enable safe cashless payments despite internet connectivity challenges across India's toll plazas.
Uses offline authentication mechanisms to verify payments even with intermittent networks
Advanced encryption ensures transaction safety despite vulnerabilities in Indian cyberinfrastructure
Two-Factor Authentication for Indian Users
In addition to username & password, OTP over SMS provides two-factor authentication critical for Indian customers new to digital payments.
Extra verification layer essential due to low tech-savviness and higher risk of phishing attacks
Privacy and Security for Indian Roads
Encryption as per the Indian Government's guidelines to enable privacy and prevent theft of critical logistics data
Adherence to the Indian IT Act for data security and cyber fraud prevention
Indian algorithms created specifically keeping Indian road traffic patterns in mind to prevent toll fare leakages
Indian Support and Security Teams
Dedicated Indian security researchers and developers to design systems-based ground realities in India
Indian support teams well-versed in regional languages assist local cyber threats
Physical and IT security personnel deployed, especially across Indian toll plazas
The underlying foundations of FASTag's security apparatus are built ground-up for India - from encryption standards to authentication mechanisms to cybersecurity professionals. This hyper-local approach is essential for enabling safe cashless transactions, given the unique challenges of Indian conditions.
Conclusion
FASTag has proven to be a game-changing innovation that brings immense benefits to Indian road transportation. FASTag has considerably eased congestion and reduced vehicle travel time by enabling automated, electronic fee collection at toll plazas. The smooth traffic movement also results in substantial fuel savings and lower carbon emissions per vehicle. For customers, FASTag provides convenience through digital payments, easy account management via mobile app, and transparency in toll spending. With solid security protocols for cashless transactions and multiple recharge options, FASTag has seen rapid adoption across vehicle segments.
Frequently asked questions
Below are commonly asked questions answered about FASTag.