FASTag: All you need to know about procuring & using it!

[condor]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

The other way to find this out would be quite easier too - When you don't see FASTag lane, it certainly would give you all hints that there is no FASTag there.

Actually, one of the toll-booths between Chitradurga & Hubli has a missing board, though the lane is there.

Same @ Hattargi toll ( last toll before Belgaum, when coming from Kolhapur side). Ended up in the regular cash lane, and when I asked, the guy with the hand-held reader was called.


On another note, had delays in 3 places today due to trucks with insufficient balance.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by condor

Actually, one of the toll-booths between Chitradurga & Hubli has a missing board, though the lane is there.

Same @ Hattargi toll ( last toll before Belgaum, when coming from Kolhapur side). Ended up in the regular cash lane, and when I asked, the guy with the hand-held reader was called.

Here are all these booths, in Pune - Bangalore direction which I had taken screenshots last year. All of these have some or the other indication of FASTag including Hattarigi:

Hattaragi


Bankapura


Chalageri


Guilalu


Hirebagewadi


Tumkur (JAS)

So all these booths have one or the other ways to tell that FASTag exists. Either there is a FASTag logo on one of the Lane boards or there is an extra long lane wall/median that starts. But it would certainly be an issue when the queues are longer.

[vivek95]

Agree with Parag and condor. I am yet to get a Fastag for our new VW Polo, however wanted to update that Fastags on NH4 Belgaum-Pune-Mumbai section are working perfectly fine. This is based on my observations/experiences with travelling by SRS,VRL and Konduskar Volvo/Scania multiaxle buses on the said route. The dedicated Fastag lanes at Hattargi and Kognoli tolls in KA part of NH4 are opened only when a Fastag enabled vehicle arrives. In MH part of NH4 and the Pune-Mumbai expressway, the lanes are open for all but are working well. Almost each bus of the huge Volvo/Scania fleet of SRS, VRL are equipped with Fastags. Since I usually travel in front most seats, I have been observing this carefully whenever we pass through a toll.

[sachinpk]

Looks like my trip to Kerala would again be on a "cash mode". I had recharged my FasTag account two weeks back. Tomorrow, I am supposed to start my journey and decided to log in and check if every thing is fine. My ID and password was not recognized. I even tried requesting an OTP (after answering the hint question correctly), no OTP arrives on my phone. Now after multiple attempts my account is locked out.
Trying to call the Help Desk number, and typical of a sarkaari/PSU bank the 24/7 help desk is not reachable. All their executives are busy (doing what??) at 2155Hrs IST today.

This seems to be another noble idea, implemented quite pathetically.

[arvind71181]

Originally Posted by sachinpk

Looks like my trip to Kerala would again be on a "cash mode". I had recharged my FasTag account two weeks back. Tomorrow, I am supposed to start my journey and decided to log in and check if every thing is fine. My ID and password was not recognized. I even tried requesting an OTP (after answering the hint question correctly), no OTP arrives on my phone. Now after multiple attempts my account is locked out.
Trying to call the Help Desk number, and typical of a sarkaari/PSU bank the 24/7 help desk is not reachable. All their executives are busy (doing what??) at 2155Hrs IST today.

This seems to be another noble idea, implemented quite pathetically.

But as long as you recharged it 2 weeks back with sufficient balance, shouldn't it work? Probably you can get this sorted out once you are back no?

[sachinpk]

Originally Posted by arvind71181

But as long as you recharged it 2 weeks back with sufficient balance, shouldn't it work? Probably you can get this sorted out once you are back no?

That is my only hope. If locking of my account also means my RFID tag becomes unusable, then I think this pathetic system needs to be thrown in to the dust bin. A friend was trying to get this, I have asked him to wait.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by sachinpk

If locking of my account also means my RFID tag becomes unusable, then I think this pathetic system needs to be thrown in to the dust bin. A friend was trying to get this, I have asked him to wait.

I'm quite sure that "locking" of the account will have nothing to do with the RFID getting recognised at toll plazas. That account login is just for the portal front end. Once you request a fresh password via online/phone channels, you should be able to login and check status of the account.

[binand]

Originally Posted by sachinpk

If locking of my account also means my RFID tag becomes unusable, then I think this pathetic system needs to be thrown in to the dust bin.

If it is just that you have forgotten the password and need to go through some contortions to get it reset, then you should be alright at the toll booths.

On the other hand, if your account was intentionally locked by the provider then I believe it is appropriate for them to prevent you from accessing your balance as well.

[sachinpk]

Originally Posted by arvind71181

But as long as you recharged it 2 weeks back with sufficient balance, shouldn't it work? Probably you can get this sorted out once you are back no?

Originally Posted by NPV

I'm quite sure that "locking" of the account will have nothing to do with the RFID getting recognised at toll plazas. That account login is just for the portal front end. Once you request a fresh password via online/phone channels, you should be able to login and check status of the account.

Originally Posted by binand

If it is just that you have forgotten the password and need to go through some contortions to get it reset, then you should be alright at the toll booths.

Thanks for all your assurances. Just got back from another quick trip to Kerala. The RFID tag worked perfectly, and I also got SMS alerts when tolls were deducted (often with a delay of around 3-4 hours). So looks like my problem is with the portal. Have another trip coming up in two weeks time, and by then I should be able to sort that out as well.

How ever, I am now becoming skeptical of how this tag would be beneficial.
1. Had to cross the Paliyekkara toll booth near Trichur, and there was no tangible advantage at all. Every vehicle was allowed on the FasTag lane and the toll booth attendant actually noted down the vehicle number etc. Time taken was pretty much the same, if I had actually paid cash.
2. Return journey. Sunday evening. Thoppur toll, Krishnagiri toll and Athibele toll were all packed with multiple queues being formed. The tails of the queue were long, so it is really difficult to identify which queue would take me to the FasTag lane. After switching across queues multiple times, did land up at the FasTag lanes, and then the security guards allowed me to pass through. Time saved was only very minimal.

Currently what I could make out is that lot many people consider FasTag too be some elitist scheme and beneficial for selected drivers. So they make a fuzz when a lane is kept locked up, and other queues being very long. And then they see a perfectly non-special private vehicle coming in, the lane gets opened up and they make a quick get away. That for many does not look right thinking from a "socialist" view point. So they start creating problems for the security guards "protecting" FasTag lane.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by sachinpk

And then they see a perfectly non-special private vehicle coming in, the lane gets opened up and they make a quick get away. That for many does not look right thinking from a "socialist" view point. So they start creating problems for the security guards "protecting" FasTag lane.

From my own experience (quite contradictory to what you've mentioned) - At toll plazas where security guards man the exclusive FasTag lanes, they do not let anyone in till they confirm the presence of the Tag, period! No amount of cajoling, pressurising them will work when you're in a non-FasTag vehicle. Of course if one is a VIP/politico, etc there is always an extreme left "Exempt" lane!

At some of these tolls, the guard also has a hand-held scanner so they just look for the tag, scan it and you're in and out of the lane quickly without a need to stop again at the toll booth. But, at the tolls where the guard only verifies tag presence and allows the vehicle into the lane for scanning at the booth ahead, I have found that many times, these guys aren't aware or can't recognize the tags
During a recent trip, the guy simply wouldn't believe that I had a FasTag and kept arguing that the tag is not as small as the one pasted on my car's windshield Noticing our discussion, one of the supervisors came up and after seeing that I indeed had the tag, let me in to the lane!

When the lines get longer on holidays and long weekends, it's the not the guards who decide to let all vehicles into the FasTag lane, that is a decision made by the supervisor/manager at the toll plaza.

[binand]

Originally Posted by sachinpk

So they make a fuzz when a lane is kept locked up, and other queues being very long. And then they see a perfectly non-special private vehicle coming in, the lane gets opened up and they make a quick get away.

Boy, did I see this first-hand last week on my way to Bangalore! As I was approaching the Fastag lane at Thoppur toll (the other lanes had queues that were 4-5 deep), an Audi came from behind at quite a high speed, cut in front of me and screeched to a halt since the lane was blocked. After some heated discussion with the guy manning the lane, the Audi fellow condescended to move to the adjacent lane; only to see that the attendant was opening up the lane he just vacated for me. The guy I think was livid; he made sure he caught up with my puny I10 and overtook me before we reached the next toll at Krishnagiri.

Originally Posted by NPV

At toll plazas where security guards man the exclusive FasTag lanes, they do not let anyone in till they confirm the presence of the Tag, period!

My problem so far has been locating the tag-enabled lane, considering there is no standard position or signage.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by binand

My problem so far has been locating the tag-enabled lane, considering there is no standard position or signage.

Yes, agree with you. In fact, lane numbering also isn't standard (I'd mentioned this a long time ago in an older post that is probably buried under pages of posts!) - at some tolls, numbering of lanes/booths starts from left while at some it is from the right

I've found that it is easiest to locate the FasTag lanes on early morning drives when traffic is low. Couple of times, typically when returning to Bangalore I've ended up in the wrong lane on account of traffic since it's difficult to align oneself to the correct lane when the line extends beyond 200-300 meters.

*I also think the best solution is to do away with dedicated FasTag lanes and instead enable FasTag equipped vehicles to use any lane - this shouldn't be rocket science since some toll plazas (I've mentioned some of them from my earlier experiences in other posts) have already implemented this.

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by binand

My problem so far has been locating the tag-enabled lane, considering there is no standard position or signage.

Originally Posted by NPV

Couple of times, typically when returning to Bangalore I've ended up in the wrong lane on account of traffic since it's difficult to align oneself to the correct lane when the line extends beyond 200-300 meters.

It is a big oversight from implementation side, first as NPV mentioned numbering is wrong. Second, numbering of lanes are not standard. Hence we do not know if lane 1 at a particular toll is on left or right.

If they would have installed Fastag lanes in a single format; like right most lane in all toll lanes. It would have been easier for all.

*I also think the best solution is to do away with dedicated FasTag lanes and instead enable FasTag equipped vehicles to use any lane - this shouldn't be rocket science since some toll plazas (I've mentioned some of them from my earlier experiences in other posts) have already implemented this.

With lack of dedicated lane, only advantage of having Fastag will be to avoid carrying cash. Dedicated lane is a chicken & egg situation, toll operators always have an excuse that Fastag users are less. Hence having a dedicated lane is an overkill. For customers, unless there is a dedicated lane, it is of no real use.

There were lot of truckers using Fastag thanks to cash crunch due to demonetization. Now since cash shortage is almost over, not sure how many of them will stick to Fastag.

Also, feel that NHAI failed to capitalize fully on the cash crunch situation with long pending tag shortage issue.

[binand]

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

If they would have installed Fastag lanes in a single format; like right most lane in all toll lanes. It would have been easier for all.

That would preclude the big articulated/oversized trucks from using Fastag. I think the leftmost (dedicated lane for them) plus the one adjacent makes most sense for Fastag (two lanes each way).

Until this happens, what say we undertake an exercise to build an online spreadsheet that lists the lane at various tolls that we know of? As a reference document it will help many people.

[B103]

It is 2 months since I have been using the FastTag. I am happy about this arrangement until now.

Aren't we suppose to receive a cashback of 10% of toll charges paid, every month? Is everybody receiving it? I am not and so I wrote a message at my online fast tag login, but did not get any reply yet. Anybody know, what is the way to get the cashback activated?