The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had notified all four-wheelers on Indian roads to compulsorily have FASTags, effective January 1 2021.
The Ministry has also stated that FASTag will be mandatory for all M and N category of motor vehicles (four wheelers) sold before December 1, 2017 through amendments in CMVR, 1989.
Furthermore, the extension of the deadline for payment of toll charges via cash on highways has been extended to Feb 15, 2021 from the initial date of January 1, 2021.
Let’s learn about this in detail.
FASTags Compulsory from January 1, 2021
We have been keeping you thoroughly updated, regarding the compulsory installation of radio frequency identification (RFID) stickers called FASTag on all four wheeler vehicles sold before December 1, 2017.
The notification from the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) reads,
“making FASTag mandatory to be available by January 1, 2021 in old vehicles also i.e. M and N category of motor vehicles (four wheelers) sold before December 1, 2017 through amendments in CMVR, 1989.”
It is to be noted that FASTags were mandatory for all new cars sold after 2017. However, as per the new Motor Vehicles Act, FASTags are mandatory for all old four wheelers too.
Additionally, category ‘M’ of motor vehicles include four-wheeler passenger vehicles (like cars), while category ‘N’ includes all four-wheeler vehicles used for carrying goods.
New Deadline Set for Cash Payments at Toll Plazas
The Ministry (MoRTH) issued a notification on November 6, regarding the amendment of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, as per which FASTags were to be made compulsory in all M and N categories of motor vehicles from January 1, 2021.
It also stated that from this date onwards, there will be a 100% shift towards collection of toll charges on national highways through FASTag, instead of using cash payments/transactions.
However, due to a large population of motorists still using cash to pay toll taxes on highways, the Ministry decided to extend the deadline from January 1, 2021.
In a recent statement issued by the MoRTH on Thursday, the deadline for cash payment of toll charges made on highways, have been extended to February, 2021, from January 2021.
Cash Payments Can be Made Until Feb 15
The Ministry explains that the deadline extension for cash payments holds only for hybrid lanes of fee plazas, until February 15, 2021, while payment in hybrid lanes can also be made through FASTags.
“It is clarified that this Central Motor Vehicle Rule stands in force as it is. However, at hybrid lanes of fee plazas on National Highways, fee payment can be made through FASTag as well as in cash mode till 15th February, 2021.
Moreover, in FASTag lanes of fee plazas, payment of fees will continue to be through FASTag only.”, as per MoRTH’s statement on Thursday.
Currently, about 75-78% travelers make use of FASTag payments at toll plazas.
In order to discourage cash payments at toll plazas, one lane on each side of all lanes have been dedicated to “FASTag lanes”.
Any vehicle without a FASTag, entering this lane will have to pay double the normal toll fee.
FASTags are prepaid RFID tags, which are used to automatically deduct toll plaza charges from the car, and there is no need to stop the car and make the payment.
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