Government extends mandatory FASTag deadline date to December 15

New Delhi : The Highway Ministry has extended the deadline for 100% electronic toll collection through FASTag on all National Highways to December 15. The decision has been taken in order to provide more time to the citizens to buy the FASTag and put it on their vehicles.

According to a report by The Times Of India, the preparedness for processing the FASTags was brought up for the discussion at a meeting chaired by Cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba on Friday when NHAI official pointed out that more time must be given to it in order to get maximum benefit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently directed that his office will be monitoring the progress of FASTag.

According to the known data, a total of 73 lakh FASTags have been sold till date and out of them 1.68 lakh were sold on Thursday itself, which is highest in a day so far.

"The extra time will help us streamline all preparations. While we and banks have been able to push the sale of FASTags throughout the country, we need to see how people are successfully uploading the amount. We are addressing all concerns that people are raising through the FASTag app," said an official.

 According to the official release, all lanes (Except one on each side) will be made FASTag lane from December 15. "It has now been decided that charging of double user fee from vehicles which enter FASTag lane without the tag will start from December 15 instead of December 1," the ministry statement read.