FASTags set the tone for Digital India

11 Dec 2019 CW Staff

With the government extending the deadline from December 1 to December 15 to obtain these stickers, they are expected to play a major role in expediting the monetisation of road assets and attract more global investors under the Toll-Operate-Transfer (TOT) model.

As reported, numerous foreign investors had previously shown interest towards India’s highway road assets and have praised the country’s efforts to introduce an electronic tolling system as it ensures a more efficient method of collection. The investment put forward by these sources depends on the reliability of the toll collection system – which makes it crucial for India to necessitate the following change at an optimal speed.

According to reports, it is estimated that one factor that will attract foreign investors is the introduction of digital payment that will be put forth as a consequence of FASTags. They won’t be required to deal in hard cash and are more likely to see this as a benefit of their investment.

The tags initiate payment through RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Technology) which processes the transaction the specific linked account. The sought after benefits of these are: Decongestion of highways resulting in time savings and aids in making the tolling process transparent – free of any discrepancies that may normally arise from handling cash.

At present, the government has started a pilot project at the Hyderabad airport for using FASTags for parking purposes in two phases. Apart from parking, NHAI is also considering launching the system for fuel stations, traffic violations and motor insurance, among other avenues.

The introduction is therefore a major boost to the government’s Digital India initiative and will also expectedly fasten sale of road assets.

With the introduction of FASTags, the Indian Government has set a strong foot forward with regards to its take on electronic toll collection system which is set to be introduced on all National Highway (NH) tolls. FASTags are stickers that are placed on the windshields of cars – upon crossing the toll booth and electric payment is initiated. The system is operated by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and is now mandatory for toll payment on NHs. With the government extending the deadline from December 1 to December 15 to obtain these stickers, they are expected to play a major role in expediting the monetisation of road assets and attract more global investors under the Toll-Operate-Transfer (TOT) model.As reported, numerous foreign investors had previously shown interest towards India’s highway road assets and have praised the country’s efforts to introduce an electronic tolling system as it ensures a more efficient method of collection. The investment put forward by these sources depends on the reliability of the toll collection system – which makes it crucial for India to necessitate the following change at an optimal speed.According to reports, it is estimated that one factor that will attract foreign investors is the introduction of digital payment that will be put forth as a consequence of FASTags. They won’t be required to deal in hard cash and are more likely to see this as a benefit of their investment. The tags initiate payment through RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Technology) which processes the transaction the specific linked account. The sought after benefits of these are: Decongestion of highways resulting in time savings and aids in making the tolling process transparent – free of any discrepancies that may normally arise from handling cash. At present, the government has started a pilot project at the Hyderabad airport for using FASTags for parking purposes in two phases. Apart from parking, NHAI is also considering launching the system for fuel stations, traffic violations and motor insurance, among other avenues. The introduction is therefore a major boost to the government’s Digital India initiative and will also expectedly fasten sale of road assets.

Building Material

11 Dec 2025

Suraj Estate Wins Euromoney Award for India’s Best Residential Developer

"Suraj Estate Developers Limited has received the Euromoney Real Estate Award 2025 for ‘India’s Best Residential Developer’, positioning the company among globally benchmarked leaders in the sector. The recognition reflects its four-decade legacy in delivering high-quality residential and redevelopment-led projects across South Central Mumbai. The Euromoney Real Estate Awards, presented by the London-based Euromoney magazine, are widely regarded as one of the most credible global assessments of performance in real estate, banking and finance. Winners are selected through surveys of inte..

Building Material

11 Dec 2025

Lloyds Metals, Tata Steel Sign MoU to Explore Strategic Collaboration

"Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Tata Steel Limited to evaluate potential areas of strategic cooperation across mining, logistics, pelletisation and steelmaking. The MoU was signed by B Prabhakaran, Managing Director of Lloyds Metals, and Mr T V Narendran, CEO and Managing Director of Tata Steel. The partnership framework aims to leverage the natural operational synergies between both companies and assess opportunities in greenfield steel projects, iron ore mining, slurry pipeline infrastructure, pellet manufacturing in iron ore–ric..

Building Material

11 Dec 2025

IndiaAI, Gujarat Govt Host Regional Conclave Ahead of 2026 AI Summit

The IndiaAI Mission under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, along with the Government of Gujarat and IIT Gandhinagar, convened a Regional Pre-Summit Event at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar. The initiative is part of the build-up to the India–AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled for 15–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The conclave brought together senior policymakers, technology leaders, researchers and industry practitioners to examine how AI can accelerate economic, digital and social transformation across sectors. The programme focused on the overarching th..