According to a statement released by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, FASTag will be mandatory from today midnight on all toll plaza lanes across the country and vehicles without valid or functional FASTags will have to pay double the cost of the toll.
According to reports, the move aims at promoting fee payment through digital mode, reduce waiting time and fuel consumption. With effect from 1st January 2021, the ministry had made compulsory of M&N categories of motor vehicles. In M&N categories, 'M' stands for a motor vehicle with at least four wheels used for carrying passengers and 'N' stands for a motor vehicle with at least four wheels used for carrying goods and also it may carry persons along with the goods.
Earlier, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had released a notification making FASTag mandatory for all four-wheel vehicles from January 1, 2021. It has become compulsory for those M&N category vehicles sold before December 1, 2017. Even for the effective implementation of the move, the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 was amended. Last November, even a notification was issued by the ministry in this regard.
In 2016, FASTag has been made mandatory aiming to promote fee payment through digital mode. On Sunday, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has stressed that the deadline for the introduction of FASTag would not be extended further and all vehicle owners should immediately comply with the latest decision.
