Understanding The Many Uses of FASTag: A One-stop Solution For Payments While Travelling?

That sticker in the top-centre of your windshield could be used to pay for fuels and parking spots, and more

FASTags changed the way we pay tolls in India. Introduced in 2014, they were declared mandatory by 2019. They speed up the toll collection process and reduce traffic congestion at toll plazas. However, FASTags can do much more than pay tolls. FASTag is slowly evolving into a multi-utility tool, making our lives easier in more ways than one. 

How FASTags Work?

FASTag uses RFID technology for toll collection. The sticker is affixed to the windshield of the vehicle and has a unique identification code linked to the FASTag account which in turn is linked to a financial platform like a bank or a digital wallet. As the vehicle approaches a toll plaza, overhead RFID antennas communicate with the sticker, exchanging information regarding the account and toll amount. The toll fee is automatically deducted from the FASTag account balance without the need for manual intervention. 

Following successful payment, toll plaza barriers lift and the vehicle passes. Additionally, users receive notifications via SMS or email with the transaction details. In case your FASTag has no balance amount, or you don’t have one, you can still pay directly at the toll plaza but by regulations, you will have to pay double the fare.

Other Uses of FASTag

Toll collection is the primary use of a FASTag, but more use cases are being explored over time. Some of them are already in the testing phase. Let's have a look at them.

1. Parking Fee Payment

Car owners often search for cash or wait in line to pay for parking at a mall, airport, or metro station. FASTags can be used in such scenarios to make things convenient. Some parking lots allow you to pay parking fees directly through your FASTag account. It's as simple as a drive-in and drive-out, with the fee automatically deducted from your account. This means no more fumbling for change or waiting in queues.

2. Fuel Payment

Imagine stopping at a fuel station, refuelling your vehicle, and driving off without cash or card transactions. That's precisely what FASTag is making possible at select fuel stations. Enabling payments through FASTag makes refuelling easy, saving you time and hassle. Companies like HPCL, IOCL, and BPCL have already started collecting fuel payment through FASTags issued by ICICI bank. 

3. E-challan Payment

We all want to follow traffic rules, but sometimes, mistakes happen, and we end up with e-challans for minor traffic violations. FASTag can simplify even this aspect. In some cities, such penalties can be automatically deducted from your FASTag account. It makes the challan payment process easy. It will help you stay on top of your dues without extra effort.

4. Vehicle Tracking

Any payment through a FASTag will notify you about the amount deducted and the location at which it has been deducted. It could be a toll plaza or a parking service compatible with FASTag. This helps you keep track of where your vehicle has been, and for fleet operators, it helps keep track of multiple vehicles. 

5. Toll Plaza Convenience Services

In the future, FASTags could be used to pay for additional services at toll plazas, such as car washes or quick mechanical check-ups. This would improve the range of conveniences available to travellers on long journeys, with a proper billing for organised payments.

6. Insurance Premium Adjustments

Based on the data collected through FASTag regarding vehicle usage and travel patterns, insurance companies could offer customised premiums or discounts to drivers who have lower mileage.

These potential and emerging uses of FASTag highlight its capacity to go beyond just quick-and-easy toll collection, a task it has already succeeded at. It can be a platform for various services and applications to make transportation and vehicle management more efficient and user-friendly.

While FASTag continues to serve as an important component of modern toll collection systems, the government is looking forward to emerging technologies such as satellite-based toll collection systems as potential alternatives for the future.

So, the next time you look at that FASTag on your windshield, remember, it's not just a toll pass – it's your gateway to convenience, efficiency, and peace of mind on the road.