Question : FASTag Cards

(a) whether the National Highway Authority has launched FASTag cards to allow cashless payment of toll fee and facilities for non-stop movement of vehicles through toll plazas and if so, the details thereof along with the total number of FASTags that have been issued till date;

(b) whether there is any proposal to give financial concession on using of FASTag cards on NHs, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether his ministry has also proposed to make FASTags and vehicle tracking systems mandatory for commercial vehicles seeking a national permit;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the decision is likely to be taken; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to popularise FASTags among vehicle owners?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

(a) Yes, Madam. Ministry through National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has launched FASTag programme to allow cashless payment of user fee for near non-stop movement of vehicles through toll plazas. As on 3rd Aug, 2018, 26,59,042 RFID Tags have been issued.

(b) Yes, financial concession is given to FASTag users. For FASTag users there is provision of cashback as mentioned below:

i. For FY 18-19 – 5% of cashback
ii. For FY 19-20 – 2.5% of cashback

(c) &(d) Yes Madam. As per the Gazette notification G.S.R. 1361 (E), dated 02.09.2017, all new motor vehicles of categories M and N sold on or after the 1st December, 2017, shall be fitted with FASTag as may be specified by the Central Government, from time to time, by the manufacturer of the vehicle or its authorised dealer. Also, as per the Gazette notification G.S.R. 1095 (E), dated 28.11.2016, all service vehicles, as defined under clause (35) of section 2 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, shall be equipped with or fitted with vehicle tracking device and one or more emergency buttons. This shall not apply to two wheelers, E-rickshaw, three wheelers and any transport vehicle for which no permit is required under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. This shall come into force after 1st April, 2019.

(e) Government has taken a number of steps to popularise FASTags among highway users. To facilitate easy availability of FASTag, it is being made available through kiosks set up by tag-issuer banks and also through online platforms. Mobile applications such as My FASTag have also started taking requests and providing FASTag to interested road users.


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