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-   -   FASTag: All you need to know about procuring & using it! (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/street-experiences/179085-fastag-all-you-need-know-about-procuring-using-78.html)

You should load wallet based on the Kms of intended travel (to and fro) multiplied by at least 1.5 to be on the safer side. As Suhas mentions, the NHAI Portal is not always consistent with updated toll information as I too have noticed.

For instance Bangalore Chennai is

Useless site after they modified it and went into beta mode.

+1.
Just load 1.5 X approx. Kms. The unused balance and cash back from this trip will become opening balance for a future trip. Always better to keep excess balance just in case a toll debits you twice or due to some other error (you can complain and get back the double tolled amount) instead of facing an awkward moment at a toll.

Apologies in advance if this has been addressed already - Does Fastag work like a pre-paid card meaning once i load it with x amount does it have a validity period or can i use it till such time that the balance becomes nil

There is no validity for the fastag account, until and unless you hold the fastag the amount in your account will remain. It will be deducted only when you use the fastag in tolls.

May be I read it wrong somewhere, but as of now they are giving tags with a validity of 5 years?

Atleast that's what my HDFC tag came with as being valid for 5 years.

Are you sure on that? Atleast my icici tag did not have that. Not sure if only HDFC has come up with a validity.

Probably others can also confirm if there is any validity on their tags - ICICI, HDFC, IDFC and SBI.

Here is the information from ICICI/Fastag website,

What is the validity period of FASTag card?

The tag has a validity of 5 years and after purchasing, you only need to recharge/ top up the tag as per your requirement.

Thanks for the this Arun. I seriously din't knew this:thumbs up

If this is the case, then ICICI should think of providing tags at all their branches so that it will be an easy affair to get a new one. Else it is a pain to travel all the way to Bommannahalli branch to collect one.

I understand that the validity is not a permanent one and can simply be extended at the FASTag / ICICI backend.

This is only to ensure that if there is any major change in technology, customers can be induced to take up the newer technology by invalidating their current tags.

As it stands today, gantry based pay as you go tolls based on actual usage will be a reality in a couple of years especially on new urban ring roads.

Not till zero. Minimum balance needed to be maintained is 100, I think.
I think the validity is mentioned in the fine print. I have a hazy memory of reading about validity either on the form or on ICICI website or somewhere, long long back, much before demonitisation. The tag has validity, not the account.

If you are comparing it with a prepaid sim card, which have a validity of 30 days (example), this is not like that. You can use your recharge anytime, not necessarily within a time frame after recharging.

The Fastag lane in Krishnagiri Toll Plaza has been changed to lane 4 in the Bangalore Salem direction. The sign boards still show lane 2. I went in lane 2 without knowing the change and was unable to change to lane 4 due to long queue. I refused to pay cash and finally one guy came with handheld scanner. The fasttag lane seems to have automatic scanner now.

At Thooppur, a truck was stuck in fastag lane and the watchman was forcing others in fastag lane to squeeze into non fastag lane. After some argument, he opened and we proceeded without issues.

i also faced same issue on Friday evening, but i paid cash due to long queue waiting behind. It was completely messed up that day as long truck trying to squeeze in 4th lane from 2nd lane due to this fastag lane change. Imagine three lanes are blocked by a single truck in a peak time :Frustrati

Did not benefit much by using Fastag during my Vaikom - Bangalore drive yesterday. Paliyekkara allows all vehicles in fastag. Hence the only benefit was not paying cash. In Walayar, fastag was slower than other lanes. It was beneficial in the toll booth after Coimbatore bypass (Rs 85/-) and the next one (Rs 50/-). Took the Omalur route and hence the next one was Thoppur. A TN STC bus was waiting the fastag lane so the watchman diverted all vehicles in Fastag to the next lane saying that also accepts fastag. There were 4 Vehicles in front of me while the TN STC bus in the Fastag lane left. Then the attendent let other cars that came after me in the Fastag lane and they left fast while I was still waiting. At Krishnagiri, there was a long queue of trucks in Fastag. Hence, paid cash in the non fastag lane. Fastag lane is changed to lane 4 and it is indicated in sign boards. So, with more trucks using fastag, its utlility is reducing.

Same happened to me as well at the Krishnagiri toll. There were around 8 trucks including 4 trailer trucks and the queue was not moving as the first truck was doing to and forth exercise:Frustrati. I checked with the attendant before moving to the next lane, he asked me to wait and allowed me to enter before the other trucks. All other lanes were empty.