NEW DELHI, Dec 25: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has announced that FASTag will be mandatory for all vehicles in the country from January 1, 2021.

The Minister said it will save time and fuel as commuters will not have to stop at toll plazas for cash payments. A FASTag, which is affixed on the windscreen, allows automatic deduction of toll charges as the vehicle passes by. It is a reloadable tag using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology for making payments. Gadkari was addressing a virtual function.

"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 of Road Transport and Highways said in an official statement.

"The steps for ensuring the availability of FASTag at multiple channels are being made through physical locations and also through online mechanism so that the citizens are able to have them affixed at their vehicles," the Ministry said.

FASTag was launched in 2016 and a lakh of them were issued then. Last month the Ministry had issued a notification making FASTag mandatory for old vehicles also.

Assam Highway projects

The Minister at the function inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 27 National Highway projects in Assam with an investment of Rs 2,366 cr.

The projects being executed in the State will also boost tourism by improving accessibility, thus increasing commercial activities and socio-economic progress, he said. The 439 km long projects will further ease inter-State transportation, help people living in remote areas to avail healthcare services and provide better employment and self-employment opportunities.