The Maharashtra government has announced that FASTag will be mandatory for all four-wheeler vehicles starting April 1, 2025. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde confirmed the decision after a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday.
About The Move
This move aims to reduce traffic congestion at toll plazas and save both fuel and time. Under the new rule, vehicles without an active FASTag will have to pay double the toll fee. The same penalty applies to toll payments made using cash, smart cards, credit or debit cards, QR codes, or any other modes.
The mandate will be enforced across all toll plazas managed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and the Public Works Department (PWD), which include 50 and 23 toll plazas, respectively.
What Is FASTag?
FASTag is an electronic toll collection system operated by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). It uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to deduct toll charges directly from a prepaid or linked savings account. Affixed to a vehicle’s windscreen, it allows seamless travel through toll plazas without stopping for payments.
