[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by PrideRed

Yes, I noted this while coming from home last weekend. However while coming back, most of the VIP lanes were used for regular traffic and Fasttag lane was dedicated.

Even in MH the VIP lanes are used for regular traffic during peak weekend rush to manage the traffic. So I guess the existence of VIP lanes is probably as per mandate by NHAI or other governing authority and hence it exists everywhere.

However, at Shantigrama during my second run, I noticed the FASTag lane was closed and they asked me to take the lane on its left to pass. I had a quick argument since I notice that the 2 booths of Shantigrama and Kirisave managed by L&T always have some or the other issues and are inconsistent.

All said and done, our Public despite of clear message on the barricade still mistake that as normal lane and stand behind you. I wonder when will they learn (to read).

[audioholic]

Did a roundtrip across Karnataka and I was pretty disappointed with the Fastag experience on the Bangalore Pune highway. The last time we went on Monsoon Drive, the situation was different. But this time, not all toll booths had functioning Fastag Lanes right from Nelamangla till Haveri. I had to take the next lane but thankfully the queue wasnt large except for a car or two.

Originally Posted by paragsachania

I drove to Chikmagalur and Belur twice last week and here is what I noticed at Bellur Cross (Nelligere) and Kirisave toll booths :

So VIP lanes do exist and at Nelligere I did notice a car driver having a discussion with the guard who then let him pass.

When I returned last Sunday from CKM, the fastag experience was definitely better than the Bangalore Pune highway and it helped me cover CKM-BLR(Home) in 3.5hrs without break. In Shantigrama toll, the car ahead of mine was trying to convince the guard to let them pass through FT lane even though they didnt have a tag. I was happy that the security guards did not allow them and asked them to go to the next lane. I waited for a minute and then started shooing them out once I got to know they did not have a tag. Finally they moved off and I went through. At the next toll booth, I had kind of tickled the ego of another car, which made him try to race ahead. Near the toll he saw me heading towards the Fastag lane and followed me there, only to be blocked by the security Good riddance and I did not see him later.

Nelamangla toll was chaos as usual. The FT lane had a long line of trucks and I took the next lane thinking that all lanes have RFID scanners. However, this toll booth didnt have. Somehow I was pretty frustrated seeing the long line and them not having scanners in other lanes. I refused to pay by cash and told him to get the scanner or do whatever. They finally let me go without charging.

[avingodb]

Originally Posted by BlueEyes

Team, what is the quickest way to get fastag?

I got mine from ICICI within 5 days. Keep an scanned image of your ID and of the vehicle RC ready when you apply for it.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by audioholic

When I returned last Sunday from CKM, the fastag experience was definitely better than the Bangalore Pune highway and it helped me cover CKM-BLR(Home) in 3.5hrs without break. In Shantigrama toll, the car ahead of mine was trying to convince the guard to let them pass through FT lane even though they didnt have a tag. I was happy that the security guards did not allow them and asked them to go to the next lane.

This is what I like about Nelamangala - Hassan FASTag. Its nearly exclusive to FASTag users and they stick to it. Thanks to less (negligible) freight traffic on this route, they know queues with just cars with FASTag will be easy to manage. Guess the opposite is what irks the FASTag experience on Mumbai routes where cars are minority at least till Kolhapur.

Nelamangla toll was chaos as usual. The FT lane had a long line of trucks and I took the next lane thinking that all lanes have RFID scanners. However, this toll booth didnt have. Somehow I was pretty frustrated seeing the long line and them not having scanners in other lanes. I refused to pay by cash and told him to get the scanner or do whatever. They finally let me go without charging.

I want to meet that guy who have a statement to the press last year that all lanes at NBTL Plaza are FASTag but never seen more than one lane have this. What is even worse?They still use a Handheld scanner!! So during return on Friday even I had to use the cash lane and paid and continued. Honestly, for Nelamangala (NBTL), I always presume and have less hopes for FASTag lanes to be free most of the times.

[blackwasp]

Originally Posted by BlueEyes

Team, what is the quickest way to get fastag? A long highway trip coming up in a weak's time and I am trying to procure a RFID before that.

Goto an ICICI POS location in your city. Thanks to tie up with HPCL, some of the HP pumps now have the facility to give you Fastag. It will get activated on the spot and you need same documents as the ones you require when an agent comes home.

Originally Posted by avingodb

I got mine from ICICI within 5 days. Keep an scanned image of your ID and of the vehicle RC ready when you apply for it.

+1 and incase the car is not in your name, you need valid ID proof of driver () as well. A driving license should suffice.

I had contacted ICICI via email and Kruti <kruti.parikh@ext.icicibank.com? replied the address of the local POS centers. You will not find this information on the website so call / email them for the location in your city. The site also mentions POS centers on Highways, but it may not be convenient time wise.

I was charged Rs. 1001 out of which 500 was deposit, 300 was balance(threshold) and 174 + 27 as fees + GST.

Adding a sample location list for POS in Mumbai (this is early 2017):

[Funny]

We have 2 cars with PayTM Fastag and 1 with Axis Bank Fastag. I found the PayTM Fastag to be really easy to use, especially for recharging and keeping track of available balance. The Axis Fastag however is pathetic, it works fine but the issue starts when you want to recharge the account. They have a poorly built website which doesn't work for recharge, you can however call them up on their toll-free helpline who will help you setup a NEFT/IMPS beneficiary for recharge. Also there is a option to register an account hidden somewhere in their domain where if you did manage to get access to the account you can recharge and check the available balance but navigating through that website is just horrible, it feels likes it's built by college students as a experimental project. Overall in this digital era, PayTM is much user-friendly compared to the likes of Axis for Fastags. So for people who do have the option, I'd suggest to go for the PayTM Fastag!

[Hayek]

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

I guess the reason why many of Mumbai members have this query is due to following -

• ETC tags were used by MMRDA tolls earlier too, so an assumption that a newly implemented solution (Fastag) will support earlier toll booths too.
  
• MSRDC maintained Mumbai - Pune Expressway has ETC lanes which support Fastag too, though NHAI doesn't have anything to do with this road.

Quick question for Bombay Fastag users. Do you end up with interference between the tag for the Bandra Worli sea link and Fastag? Do you end up with Double Deductions in booths like those on the Expressway where both tags work?

Also, does Fastag work on the MEP toll booths at Vashi / Thane which are on National Highways?

[rakirank]

Needed a replacement Fastag (ICICI), in Bangalore, as I replaced the windshield.

As usual the million$ question was, where to procure it. Called the toll free no only to be directed to the POS locations. My choice was either Electronics City or the KIAL POS. As I was pondering the next course of action and how to get the contact numbers of the POS to confirm availability, timings, etc, I came across a no for Mr Ramu in one of the earlier posts.

Mr Ramu is associated with ICICI Bommanahalli branch and supports Fastag issuance.
I called Ramu and he asked for my address. He then said he would deliver the same to my residence the same day.

I must say, I was happy with the overall experience.

He asked to me recharge as my balance was < 100 INR

Overall costs as below.

Tag replacement cost - INR 100 (rounded-up)
Service charges - INR 200 (I am sure you all understand this). I was happy to part with this for the hassle free home delivery. I did not bargain.

I understand he supports all of Bangalore. It may be an option to engage with him if someone needs a Fastag.

His contact no is 97401 53227

[OverKill]

Originally Posted by Hayek

Also, does Fastag work on the MEP toll booths at Vashi / Thane which are on National Highways?

Not sure about your first querry, but Fastag doesn't work on the MEP toll booths i.e Vashi/Thane/Mulund/Airoli.

I have recently installed Fastag on my car and had a argument about this at the ETC lane a few days back.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by Hayek

Quick question for Bombay Fastag users. Do you end up with interference between the tag for the Bandra Worli sea link and Fastag?

Let me answer this question, strictly based on my own experience of having 2 passive RFID tags and driving to work passing booths equipped with FASTag.

Back then in Bangalore, to take on the Elevated tolled road, I had pasted an RFID sticker provided by the agency where I could use this and pass the automated gates on an everyday basis.

Later, I also got FASTag and pasted this adjacent to the RFID tag for the Elevated toll road. There were absolutely no issues using the Elevated toll with 2 tags in place and balance in both. I guess I recollect then that the money was deducted from the RFID tag associated with the Elevated road toll and not FASTag all the times till one day when the barrier didn't open and the guard said that the balance was low (On the RFID associated with elevated road) even though FASTag had enough balance.

When questioned as to why the FASTag didn't work when the other RFID was low, he said I need to remove the RFID sticker to make FASTag work. So, at least here, the precedence was for the RFID tag and not the FASTag when both were pasted on the windscreen. After I peeled off the RFID, I could use FASTag normally without issues here.

I am not sure how the set-up works at Bandra Worli Sea Link but am sure there should be a precedence here too and the chances of double deductions will not be there.

[scorpion_blore]

Based on the feedback in the earlier posts, I have pasted Fastag on the top-left side of the windshield.

During my recent long drive I noticed that the fully automatic Fastag lanes were not able to scan the tag. This happened twice during the trip. The operators at both the toll gates mentioned that the tag need to be placed behind the IRVM, or else it will not work.
However there was no issue with semi-automatic Fastag lanes where an operator initiates the tag scan and then the gate is opened.

Anyone has any similar experience? Is re-positioning of the tag only option?

[Dushie]

Just completed my trip and got back home from Goa on 1st evening. Used FASTag on the tolls of Hattargi, Kongoli, Kini, Tasawade and Khed. There was one more toll where i paid cash as the line for FASTag was very long and cash was faster. Couple of places they scanned manually with the scanner. Overall the experience was good and i am happy my FASTag is working without any issues. The message post deduction came after a couple of hours. Even though paytm fastag showed the transaction as pending status.

Hope they improvise and makes things easier and better for folks to use FASTag on highways. I have put the tag behind the OVRM and did not face any issues in scanning till now.

[BlueEyes]

Originally Posted by avingodb

I got mine from ICICI within 5 days. Keep an scanned image of your ID and of the vehicle RC ready when you apply for it.

Originally Posted by blackwasp

Goto an ICICI POS location in your city. Thanks to tie up with HPCL, some of the HP pumps now have the facility to give you Fastag. It will get activated on the spot and you need same documents as the ones you require when an agent comes home.

Thanks, will visit a nearby ICICI branch.

Originally Posted by Funny

We have 2 cars with PayTM Fastag and 1 with Axis Bank Fastag. I found the PayTM Fastag to be really easy to use, especially for recharging and keeping track of available balance. The Axis Fastag however is pathetic, it works fine but the issue starts when you want to recharge the account. They have a poorly built website which doesn't work for recharge, you can however call them up on their toll-free helpline who will help you setup a NEFT/IMPS beneficiary for recharge.
So for people who do have the option, I'd suggest to go for the PayTM Fastag!

This is my primary concern, how easy it is to recharge your Fastag?
I use Paytm regularly, so this looks like a good option. Even though getting it quickly is ruled out, for my location Paytm shows 2 weeks to deliver!!

[reverse_gear]

Originally Posted by BlueEyes

Team, what is the quickest way to get fastag? A long highway trip coming up in a weak's time and I am trying to procure a RFID before that.
Can I walk into a authorized bank and buy one? and how has been the experience of fellow members with fastag trough Paytm? I read about cashback offers couple of pages back.

Ordered through ICICI Bank, got it delivered by courier within 3 days. Others in this thread have had a good experience with Equitas, etc.

Alternatively you can go into one of the authorised branches that sell Fastag or a toll booth with the necessary documents (RC book and 1 ID proof) and possibly get it activated on the spot.

[reverse_gear]

Originally Posted by Hayek

Quick question for Bombay Fastag users. Do you end up with interference between the tag for the Bandra Worli sea link and Fastag? Do you end up with Double Deductions in booths like those on the Expressway where both tags work?

Also, does Fastag work on the MEP toll booths at Vashi / Thane which are on National Highways?

Been there, done that. Short answer to your questions:

No interference between Fastag and Sealink tag. I have them stuck one below the other on the windscreen top centre.

No, Fastag does not work at MEP tolls.
HOWEVER...your Sealink RFID can be made to work at both Sealink and Vashi/ Thane (ie. Mumbai entry points). The thing is, though, it will be operated through 2 separate wallets using the same RFID. So you will have to create a separate wallet for entry points, in addition to the one for Sealink. Unless you are a routine user of the entry points, this may be a whole lot of trouble and confusion, which is best avoided.