In a bid to streamline toll collection and avoid traffic blocks at toll plazas, the Ministry of National Highways asked drivers to complete their FASTag cards' KYC (Know Your Customer) process. The deadline for this is set for January 31, and non-compliance will result in the deactivation of FASTags rendering your cards inactive.
What Happens After Deactivation?
The toll charge when you cross a toll plaza is usually double the regular amount for those with without or inactive tags and penalties may be incurred on malfunctioning tags.
Understanding FASTag; How It Works?
FASTag, a sticker affixed on a vehicle's windscreen, helps in automatic electronic toll payment through Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology at over 615 toll plazas in the country across national highways. Linked to a car's registration details, the barcode on each FASTag automatically deducts the toll fee from the associated digital wallet when the vehicle crosses a toll plaza.
As of February 2021, the government has made FASTag mandatory for all commercial and personal four-wheelers and also made it a prerequisite for obtaining mandatory third-party motor insurance as per The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
As per government data, almost 98 per cent of Indian vehicles are equipped with these digital toll payment cards, with over 8 crore users.
Why This Move?
Despite efforts to streamline traffic, drivers possessing multiple FASTags for a single vehicle, lead to unnecessary delays in toll plazas. To address this, the government is planning to manage FASTag use, by eliminating the use of a single FASTag for multiple vehicles or linking multiple FastTags to one vehicle.
Here such duplication happens due to the issuance of FASTags without KYC in violation of RBI's mandate. The NHAI announced that only the latest FASTag account would remain active, after January 31, 2024, with previous tags being deactivated or blacklisted. But this latest FASTag's KYC update may not be completed by some users.
To avoid inconvenience, the NHAI asked FASTag users to ensure their KYC is complete on their latest received FASTag by January 31, 2024, to avoid deactivation or blacklisting. All FASTag holders must update their KYC using a National Identity Card, including a Passport, driver's license, Voter ID Card, PAN Card, or an Aadhaar Card, by the deadline.
How to Update FASTag KYC Details?
FASTag users can update their KYC details online through the Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL) FASTag portal. Click the “Login" tab at the right top of the website and log in with the mobile number. Click on “My Profile”. In the “My Profile" section you will get the KYC status of your FASTag and also the profile details submitted during the registration process. If you want to update the status, click on the 'KYC' tab and select 'Customer Type'. Enter details using above-mentioned documents. Upload a passport-sized photo. Check and confirm the declaration and click the submit button. Your KYC will be processed in a maximum of seven working days.
Alternatively, an offline option is available by visiting the bank branch that issued the FASTag, filling out a KYC update form, and physically submitting the required documents.
FASTags are available for purchase at most toll plazas, and after buying them, users can link them to their bank accounts, and recharge with amounts ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 1 lakh for a full-KYC account.
