The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has expressed appreciation for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ order making it mandatory for FASTags at toll plazas on all highways, across the country, from December 15, 2019. SIAM members have been playing a crucial role along with the Government of India in this initiative over the last two years, trying to put into place a robust process at the dealer’s end for fitment of FASTags for new passenger vehicles, buses and trucks sold from December 1, 2017. It is estimated that more than 6 million FASTags have been issued till recently and this has also ensured growth in FASTags’ transactions at the electronic toll plazas. FASTag is one of the important steps taken by the government in its aim to achieve the vision of ‘Digital India’.
Commenting on this development, Rajan Wadhera, President, SIAM, said: “Up to 100% implementation of FASTags would have several economic and environmental benefits in the road transportation sector with seamless movement through the toll plazas, thereby ensuring faster turnaround time for movement of goods and passengers and improving overall transportation efficiency.”
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) through the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has already commenced a nationwide campaign for issuing FASTags at the toll plazas to enable affixation on old vehicles. Public awareness is also being created by large number of issuer banks through various media channels for implementation of FASTags.