Government of India has introduced an electronic toll collection (ETC) programme to reduce the travelling time on highways. Christened as “FASTag”, the ETC programme will allow people to pay highway tolls via electronic medium without stopping their vehicles at the toll plazas. Following the global standards for highway driving, the GOI introduced ECI to improve the driving experience on highways by cut short the time of travel.
Speaking on the ETC programme, the ministry said, “The unique number of the RFID Tag affixed on the wind shield of the vehicle will be read by the readers fitted in the dedicated “ETC” lanes of plazas and appropriate amount as per the class of vehicle will be automatically deducted from the account of the user. The dedicated ETC lanes will have colour coding for distinct identity recognized as “FASTag lanes”.
Adding to it, the government has tied up with ICICI and Axis banks for verifying Central Clearing House (CCH) services and RFID based “FASTag” through franchises/agents and at sales counters/point near the toll plazas. The vehicles can be affixed their FASTag at designated toll tax plaza location or Point of Sale stations of ICIC and Axis bank.
