FASTag: What, How & Why

[ankathil.arjun]

hi Friends,
bought myself a Fastag from Equitas online.
The whole process was very simple and quick.
Logged onto the website which is very user friendly, filled the form, uploaded the RC book jpeg file, paid through Debit card and done. Got the delivery within 2 days. HASSLE FREE.
Charges: 1 time fee =200/- refundable deposit = 200/- min bal = 100/- and with taxes total comes to 568/-
CON: they dont accept payments through NEFT and CREDIT CARDS.
yet to use it on the Tolls.
will keep updating.

It looks like the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is on the roll. On one side they have taken up the task of the new highways, and on the other side, they have done a good job, improving the reach of the fastag, and now also, implementing fastag for all new vehicles.

Even though these moves are for the good, they have still not addressed the bottle neck, which remains in the implementation. Most of the tolls still have only one gate for fastag, and even that is not maintained well. We can see non fastag users getting into the gate, and causing delay, and many times the RFID readers do not work properly, making the operator to manually scan the id.

With these half baked implementations, and more cars coming into the fastag lanes, it is only going to worsen the situation. From what it looks like, the floodgates are being opened without looking into the smooth flow. In my opinion, first all the gates should have been made fastag compatible, and also, the flow of traffic should be smoothed in the fastag lanes.
In the case where a fastag vehicle has no balance, a double charge must be made, which would put his balance to negative. It should also be mandated to clear the fastag balance before transferring the vehicle. This way, we can ensure that the fastag lanes remain smooth with easily flowing traffic.

This move to make fastag mandatory on new cars, is only going to worsen the situation.

 

[BooYaaKaa]

Guys, I have pasted my FasTag on the black dots which are behind the IRVM, in my Creta.
Will it cause any problems?

 

[vijay_968]

Guys, I have pasted my FasTag on the black dots which are behind the IRVM, in my Creta.
Will it cause any problems?

In my car, the HDFC reps fixed the Tag just below the Dots (link-1 and link-2). However, the location in your Car, should NOT be a problem, as NOTHING electrical is connected to these Dots. The purpose of the "Black Rims and the Black Dots" is to distribute Heat evenly during 'manufacture of the Windshield Glass'. Worry NOT.

 

[BooYaaKaa]

In my car, the HDFC reps fixed the Tag just below the Dots (link-1 and link-2). However, the location in your Car, should NOT be a problem, as NOTHING electrical is connected to these Dots. The purpose of the "Black Rims and the Black Dots" is to distribute Heat evenly during 'manufacture of the Windshield Glass'. Worry NOT.

Thanks for the clarification. Didn't wanted to paste below the IRVM, as it doesn;t look good to me from the outside.

 

[SilverEyez]

It looks like the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is on the roll. On one side they have taken up the task of the new highways, and on the other side, they have done a good job, improving the reach of the fastag, and now also, implementing fastag for all new vehicles.

Even though these moves are for the good, they have still not addressed the bottle neck, which remains in the implementation. Most of the tolls still have only one gate for fastag, and even that is not maintained well. We can see non fastag users getting into the gate, and causing delay, and many times the RFID readers do not work properly, making the operator to manually scan the id.

With these half baked implementations, and more cars coming into the fastag lanes, it is only going to worsen the situation. From what it looks like, the floodgates are being opened without looking into the smooth flow. In my opinion, first all the gates should have been made fastag compatible, and also, the flow of traffic should be smoothed in the fastag lanes.
In the case where a fastag vehicle has no balance, a double charge must be made, which would put his balance to negative. It should also be mandated to clear the fastag balance before transferring the vehicle. This way, we can ensure that the fastag lanes remain smooth with easily flowing traffic.

This move to make fastag mandatory on new cars, is only going to worsen the situation.

hi Arjun,
Agree with your point of view and suggestions.
The Fastag lanes should definitely increase with better RFID sensors.

 

[vijay_968]

Thank you very much CasualSurfer and A.G. for the useful info.

I will continue to pay cash for trips within 24 Hrs period. If I use the Tag and get charged more, chances of my Hi Command reducing my smartness rating from -50 to -75 are more

Though I wrote this info in my Verna ownership thread, I felt that posting here would help others.

Toll Charges:
There are seven Toll Plazas from B'lore to Chennai, and I used FasTag Lane in all Toll Plazas during my recent trip. The last two Tolls near Chennai are "Sriperumpudur & Chennasamudram" Tolls. Both are Rs 50, EACH, per trip. On my return journey, as these two Tolls fell within the 24 Hour Period, I was charged ONLY, Rs 30/- and Rs 25 respectively.

 

[CasualSurfer]

The last two Tolls near Chennai are "Sriperumpudur & Chennasamudram" Tolls. Both are Rs 50, EACH, per trip. On my return journey, as these two Tolls fell within the 24 Hour Period, I was charged ONLY, Rs 30/- and Rs 25 respectively.

Don't want to say 'told you so' yet. It may / may not happen elsewhere. In many places I had driven, they had not even heard about Fastag, forget return fare being deducted!

 

[J.Ravi]

I drove Chennai>Bangalore>Chennai on 16/17/18 Dec 2017. Left Chennai Royapettah home at 11:30 pm on 16/12/2017, reached Bangalore Basaveswara Nagar home at 5:45 am on 17/12/2017, attended to some urgent emergency works at home, left at 6:30 pm on 17/12/2017, had dinner at A2B Hosur and reached Chennai Royapettah home at 00:50 am today. FASTag worked flawlessly with concessional toll amounts deducted during the return journey.

 

[MaxPassos]

Guys, I have pasted my FasTag on the black dots which are behind the IRVM, in my Creta.
Will it cause any problems?

In my car, the HDFC reps fixed the Tag just below the Dots (link-1 and link-2). However, the location in your Car, should NOT be a problem, as NOTHING electrical is connected to these Dots. The purpose of the "Black Rims and the Black Dots" is to distribute Heat evenly during 'manufacture of the Windshield Glass'. Worry NOT.

I have somewhat similar situation. In confusion now whether FasTAG would work or not when going on a trip.
Please someone refer to the pics, an tell whether the location is fine or not?

 

[CasualSurfer]

I have somewhat similar situation. In confusion now whether FasTAG would work or not when going on a trip.
Please someone refer to the pics, an tell whether the location is fine or not?

It should not be a problem, IMO.

 

[sumesh]

I have bought Fastag from Paytm last month. Although there was lot of negative press about Paytm in Team bhp but decided to take the risk. My experience turned out to be really good. PayTM verified the docs in 1 day and i received the tag on the 4th day, Tag was sent from Noida all the way to Thrissur, Kerala. I have tested the tag multiple times on Thrissur Paliekkara toll and everything worked out flawlessly. best part about Paytm is the ease to load the money and track all the details using their app.

 

[carcommentor]

I have somewhat similar situation. In confusion now whether FasTAG would work or not when going on a trip.
Please someone refer to the pics, an tell whether the location is fine or not?

I don't know why many are worried. FasTAG is nothing but a passive RFID chip. It sends data when the Radio frequency wave of 865 to 867 MHz from the toll plaza hits it. As you know, Radio frequency can easily penetrate glass, let alone the frit on the windshield.

 

[CasualSurfer]

I drove Chennai>Bangalore>Chennai on 16/17/18 Dec 2017. FASTag worked flawlessly with concessional toll amounts deducted during the return journey.

I can also vouch for the same. I did that trip on Saturday (27th Jan). Fastag worked flawlessly with return fare across all tolls between Bangalore - Chennai.

By the by, Attibele / Krishnagiri tolls seem to be accepting Fastag on all lanes. I did use it in the Attibele toll on a non-Fastag lane.

 

[vijay_968]

I can also vouch for the same. I did that trip on Saturday (27th Jan). Fastag worked flawlessly with return fare across all tolls between Bangalore - Chennai.

By the by, Attibele / Krishnagiri tolls seem to be accepting Fastag on all lanes. I did use it in the Attibele toll on a non-Fastag lane.

1. On 14th Jan I found out and verified that FasTag readers work in ALL Lanes in both "Attibele & Krishnagiri" Toll Plazas.
   
2. Discounted fares (as applicable for journey within 24 Hrs) were charged on the Return Trip.
   
3. Over the last 15 days, I got Five SMSs informing about small amounts being credited in my FasTag A/c, totalling Rs. 191/-. Upon checking, I found that this is little over 7% of Rs 2,700/- I've topped up my FasTag A/c so far. Finally...

 

[wavingFlag]

I have bought Fastag from Paytm last month. Although there was lot of negative press about Paytm in Team bhp but decided to take the risk. My experience turned out to be really good. PayTM verified the docs in 1 day and i received the tag on the 4th day, Tag was sent from Noida all the way to Thrissur, Kerala. I have tested the tag multiple times on Thrissur Paliekkara toll and everything worked out flawlessly. best part about Paytm is the ease to load the money and track all the details using their app.

Same here. In fact I had placed my order and then found many negative reviews on Paytm fastag-especially to get status as Active. But in my case there was no such drama.
Day1- I placed my order
Day2- I got upload link- Didn't work on Mobile browser as it was giving error while uploading documents. But visited Paytm on computer and successfully uploaded all documents.
Day3- Got a call from Paytm executive, he gave an email ID fastag.upload@paytm.com and shared my RC copy to same ID.
Day5- Paytm Fastag showed Active status with my car reg No.
Day6- Fastag was delivered(Kannur kerala).
Had used same at Talapadi toll gate worked without any issues. But fastag transaction was showing pending status for 3 hours and then it got deducted.

I have somewhat similar situation. In confusion now whether FasTAG would work or not when going on a trip.
Please someone refer to the pics, an tell whether the location is fine or not?

It should not be a problem, IMO.

I don't know why many are worried. FasTAG is nothing but a passive RFID chip. It sends data when the Radio frequency wave of 865 to 867 MHz from the toll plaza hits it. As you know, Radio frequency can easily penetrate glass, let alone the frit on the windshield.

Fastag's should work(RFID), but I think(Based on my experience) you have will have tough time at toll gates where security people are deployed to allow entry to 'Fastag only' lanes. They will open barricade only if you show them tag on windshield.