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

[mpksuhas]

I too received cashback for January month today morning.Thanks to last months Bangalore - Gujarat trip cashback was of Rs 264.40

[binand]

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

I too received cashback for January month today morning.

I got Rs. 40 cashback on one account (last trip was in first week of Feb), but nothing on the other (last trip was in last week of Jan).

[redcruiser]

Originally Posted by Glifford

Try calling Sudheer (I know he's hard to get on the phone, but once you do get him he is very courteous and proactive). I guess you should get it quicker than two days (based on my experience)

A hearty thank you Glifford. Your suggestions saved me both fuel and time.

Sudheer was difficult to reach but Umesh did receive my call and I emailed him the docs on wednesday. I just received my Tag which was delivered by Umesh. Watsaped him the pic of my car, I hope my account gets activated soon.

One thing bothers me with Axis bank tags is absence of toll booth info as you have mentioned in your post. Is that still an issue ?

Can't wait for my next trip with the tag on!!

[airguitar]

Sorry for being naïve : When I bought my car in 2016, it came affixed with an RFID sticker ( it doesn't have the FASTAG logo ) on the windshield. Is that one just an identifier/tracker and cannot be used for paying tolls electronically ? Is it possible to link that to electronic payments at all?

Or the only way (to pay electronically) is to get a fastag tag ?

Thank you.

EDIT

It seems it's possible based on the FAQ on the NHAI page. THey say "Contact your issuing agency". Do you know if that would be ICICI ? It's a Hyundai car.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by airguitar

Is that one just an identifier/tracker and cannot be used for paying tolls electronically ? Is it possible to link that to electronic payments at all?

That RFID on the windshield is there due to the government mandate. Yes, the intent was to use it for ETC (Electronic Toll Collection).

But, in reality it hasn't served that purpose in the FasTag program yet - read up the ICICI FasTag FAQ's and older posts for more details.

The common reason given by the Fastag issuers (mostly ICICI so far as Axis and others are very new to the FasTag world) is that they haven't been able to link those manufacturer supplied RFIDs due to technical issues, but I'd take that with a pinch of salt. I think it has more to do with the issuers like ICICI, etc wanting some revenue out of this, so they supply their own RFID tag and charge Rs.200/250 for it .

EDIT:I haven't yet heard of someone being successful in linking the manufacturer RFID tag to a FasTag account for toll payments.

[airguitar]

Thank you, sir, for a great answer.

Some more questions

1) Who generates/affixes the RFID tags on the new car ? Dealer or Manufacturer ?

2) For the fastag, since there is no way I can get to the Bommanahalli ICICI branch, I tried talking to the PoSs - I spoke to the guy at the office at Lanco/Hoskote - and he said that the tags he provides are valid only for the Hoskote toll - that couldn't possibly be the case ?

Originally Posted by NPV

That RFID on the windshield is there due to the government mandate. Yes, the intent was to use it for ETC (Electronic Toll Collection).

But, in reality it hasn't served that purpose in the FasTag program yet - read up the ICICI FasTag FAQ's and older posts for more details.

The common reason given by the Fastag issuers (mostly ICICI so far as Axis and others are very new to the FasTag world) is that they haven't been able to link those manufacturer supplied RFIDs due to technical issues, but I'd take that with a pinch of salt. I think it has more to do with the issuers like ICICI, etc wanting some revenue out of this, so they supply their own RFID tag and charge Rs.200/250 for it .

EDIT:I haven't yet heard of someone being successful in linking the manufacturer RFID tag to a FasTag account for toll payments.

[sachinpk]

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

I too received cashback for January month today morning.Thanks to last months Bangalore - Gujarat trip cashback was of Rs 264.40

I checked up my account as well. This is what I found..
Cashback of Rs. 6.50 has been credited on your Tag Account towards the toll usage for the period 01st-31st January, 2017

Looks like the credit pay out happens with a delay of one month. Hoping for some better "returns" on April .

[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by airguitar

1) Who generates/affixes the RFID tags on the new car ? Dealer or Manufacturer ?

This comes fitted from the factory itself.

2) For the fastag, since there is no way I can get to the Bommanahalli ICICI branch, I tried talking to the PoSs - I spoke to the guy at the office at Lanco/Hoskote - and he said that the tags he provides are valid only for the Hoskote toll - that couldn't possibly be the case ?

Maybe he is talking about some other ETC option. Fastag is applicable to all the tolls that comes under NHAI.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by airguitar

1) Who generates/affixes the RFID tags on the new car ? Dealer or Manufacturer ?

Manufacturer, not dealer!

2) For the fastag, since there is no way I can get to the Bommanahalli ICICI branch, I tried talking to the PoSs - I spoke to the guy at the office at Lanco/Hoskote - and he said that the tags he provides are valid only for the Hoskote toll - that couldn't possibly be the case ?

I don't think you should get the Toll plaza specific tags, probably the Hoskote one is like the BETL ones valid only at that plaza.

Get the "FasTag" branded ones issued by ICICI, Axis, PayTM, etc. These will work Pan-India on NHAI managed tolls supporting the FasTag ETC payments.

I would suggest you do one of these (4 options I know):
1. Call the ICICI Bommanahalli branch contact for FasTag (read older posts on this thread). They usually send an executive to your home/office to coordinate with form and supporting documentation collection and delivery of the tag when ready (used to take about 2 weeks or so in my experience).

Alternately, you can visit the ICICI Bommanahalli branch directly. Carry original+copy of DL, RC of vehicle, a cheque (in case they don't accept cash) and a passport sized photograph.
This thread itself opens with a nice post by @mpksuhas on how to procure a FasTag

2. Visit the FasTag office near the Devanahalli toll plaza (read recent post by Parag for details). See recent posts for details, apparently it is easily available and very fast.
There are other toll plazas as well but those may be very far for you (mentioned in other posts on this thread as well).

3. AXIS is also a new entrant to the FasTag world, according to a recent post, it is easy and you can get it in a day or two and have an executive visit and help you through the process.

4. Others like PayTM have also entered the FasTag market, so if you're a mobile wallet user, that may also be an option.

[k88k]

Originally Posted by NPV

Manufacturer, not dealer!

I would suggest you do one of these (4 options I know):
1. Call the ICICI Bommanahalli branch contact for FasTag..

3. AXIS is also a new entrant to the FasTag world..

Adding my 2 cents here. You can contact the below mentioned for FasTag:

ICICI Bank FasTag: Through ICICI Bank, Bommanahalli, Mr. Senthil - 9900280259

Axis Bank FasTag: Through Sahaj eVillage Limited, Mr. Sudheer Nalluri - 9886745679 (As elaborately put by Glifford a few posts back)

I had to travel to Mangalore on a short notice and fortunately managed to get Axis Bank FasTag within 2 days time. I was informed that for ICICI Bank will take at least 7 days for processing.

Tip: Axis Bank ETC website is still work-in-progress and you will not be able to recharge on your own. If you plan to go for Axis Bank FasTag, do ask Mr. Sudheer to recharge on your behalf and you can pay the recharge amount along with FasTag registration charges.

[NPV]

FasTag experience from Bangalore-Chennai-Bangalore weekend trip (Tag worked at all tolls so did not have to use cash/alternate payment options anywhere, some notes here):
1.At Pallikonda toll, during onward and return journey, the tag was not detected first time. I had to back up a bit and then it worked. Similar experience at the Vaniyambadi toll as well on return journey. Luckily, the lane was a dedicated one and the security guy was manning a steel barricade to control entry into the lane so he would let only one vehicle in at a time. At Pallikonda and Vaniyambadi, the FasTag setup is similar - sensor was like a Wifi Router placed high and located about 15 metres or 50 feet before the booth. Though I drove slowly inside the lane, I was wondering why it did not detect first time. When it happened for the 3rd time (both times at Pallikonda) at Vaniyambadi, I found the modus operandi I was driving in the middle of the lane and when I backed up I went closer to the right edge of the lane and that's where the sensor picks it up well! So drive to the right edge and it will work just fine.

2. At all tolls on the NH 48 between Krishnagiri and Sriperumbudur the lanes are numbered from right to left, so rightmost is Lane #1

3. At couple of tolls (I think Chennasamudram and Sriperumbudur), the signage for FasTag says "FasTag Lane 1 Keep Left" and Lane 1 is on right

4. FasTag lanes are used extensively by long trucks and can be a painful, slow and waiting experience. At the Chennasamudram toll on return jouney, the truck line was very long in the FasTag lane so we decided to pay cash and proceed as other lanes were free. I took the adjacent "ETC" lane and it turned out to be a blessing in disguise as FasTag worked there are well

5. FasTag lanes at Chennasamudram and Sriperumbudur (in onward journey) allow all vehicles! - the tag is detected on reaching the booth.

[sachinpk]

Originally Posted by NPV

4. FasTag lanes are used extensively by long trucks and can be a painful, slow and waiting experience.

I had mentioned this as well, when writing about my Kerala bound trips. It is a surprise that it was these trucking companies who are utilizing FasTag, perhaps much more than the regular car users. And if this trend continues FasTag would become useless for car users. These trucks would just block the whole FasTag lane and just crawl through the toll gate. Perhaps using PayTM on the toll booths would be quicker then.

Will check up the NHAI web site to see if they have a provision using which I can share a feedback on FasTag and trucks.

[AshiqueS]

Originally Posted by sachinpk

It is a surprise that it was these trucking companies who are utilizing FasTag, perhaps much more than the regular car users. And if this trend continues FasTag would become useless for car users. These trucks would just block the whole FasTag lane and just crawl through the toll gate. .

Its time that they increase the number of FAST TAG lanes to 2 or more with a dedicated FASTTAG lane for trucks. Implementing this will push more people to activate FASTAG.

[NPV]

Forgot to mention this in my earlier post.
Being a Sunday evening return to Bangalore, I expected mayhem at Krishnagiri and Attibele tolls and also that the FasTag lanes may allow all vehicles but this was not to be.
Though there were longish 7-10 vehicles in all lanes, exclusivity was still maintained for the FasTag lane. I have to appreciate the security guys for doing a great job in clearing vehicles heading straight behind trucks into the FasTag lane.
Many of drivers of vehicles have no clue about what FasTag is - there was a guy in a Swift who actually rolled his glasses down and with a wide-open mouth was trying to shout and ask me what I was upto since the security guy allowed me in on seeing the tag.

One guy in a Qualis argued with the security folk saying he has a 2 way (multiple journey) toll ticket and wanted them to scan using the hand-held device and let him in to FasTag lane!

At Krishnagiri, security guy also scanned the tag with a hand-held device. I think I saved at least 15 minutes in total at these two tolls.

At BETL, there were 2-3 vehicles in each of the 2 FasTag lanes but moved quickly.

[binand]

I drove Calicut-Bangalore yesterday via Palakkad-Salem, and am happy to report that I managed to locate and use the Fastag lane in every single toll booth on the way. :-)

At Attibele a rather rude attendant somehow misunderstood "Fastag" as "pass" and told me to get away from the lane; but someone else noticed the tag and opened up the lane.

At Vijayamangalam there were 3-4 car carriers in the Fastag lane so I used the alternative - took the leftmost lane and demanded the handheld scanner. By the time they located it and scanned my tag, the dedicated lane was empty. :-(