Are you finally going on the most-awaited trip with your besties and don’t want any hindrances throughout the way?
Well, if you haven’t purchased a FASTag for your vehicle, then your trip, sure, would be full of multiple stops for toll tax payments. In fact, if you are travelling after 16 February 2021 without having a FASTag affixed to the windscreen of your vehicle, then you are most likely to pay twice the toll tax amount at every toll booth that you cross through the Indian national highway.
FASTag has now become a mandatory tag to be installed on the windscreen of your four-wheeled vehicle. Failing to do so will push you to pay double the toll tax amount at every toll plaza that you cross on the Indian National Highway.
Irrespective of your bank/ FASTag issuer agency, you must have your FASTag recharged at all times. If you ever cross a toll plaza on the national highway, you would still have to pay twice the toll tax amount at the toll booth. Hence, it is necessary to have some balance in your FASTag at all times. To ensure this, you must keep a regular check your FASTag balance.
After checking your FASTag balance, you can switch to the Paytm mobile application to recharge your FASTag. Follow these simple steps to recharge your South Indian Bank FASTag on Paytm-
- Open the Paytm mobile application
- You can either-
- Visit the ‘Recharge’ section and click on ‘FASTag’; or
- Select the ‘FASTag’ option on the homepage; or
- Search for the ‘FASTag recharge’ option
- Select ‘South Indian Bank’, which is your FASTag issuer bank
- Enter your vehicle registration number
- Click on the ‘Proceed’ option and enter the amount that you wish to recharge for
- Select the mode of payment out of Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, Paytm wallet, and/or UPI
Reasons that you should Recharge your South Indian Bank FASTag on Paytm
- Convenience: Paytm offers a user-friendly platform where you can easily purchase FASTag online from the comfort of your home. You don’t have to visit a physical location or stand in long queues to get your FASTag.
- Wide Acceptance: Paytm FASTag is accepted at over 500+ toll plazas across India. This ensures that you can use your FASTag for toll payments on most major highways and roads in the country, providing a hassle-free travel experience.
- Quick and Easy Activation: Once you purchase a FASTag from Paytm, the activation process is quick and seamless. You can easily link your FASTag to your vehicle’s registration number and start using it for toll payments without any delay.
- Multiple Payment Options: Paytm offers a variety of payment options, including debit card, credit card, net banking, and UPI. This gives you the flexibility to choose the payment method that is most convenient for you.
- Integrated Platform: Paytm offers an integrated platform where you can manage multiple services, including your FASTag. You can easily recharge your FASTag, track your transactions, and access other financial services, all in one place.
Is FASTag Mandatory?
If you own a four-wheeler and don’t have a FASTag yet, then you should be prepared to pay double the toll tax at every toll plaza that you cross on the Indian national highway. Since 16 February 2021, the Indian government has made it mandatory for all four-wheeled vehicles to have a FASTag stuck to their windshield. This was done to promote fee payment through digital means, reduced waiting time for travelers, lesser fuel consumption, and offer a seamless passage across the national highway in the country.
The road transport and highway ministry stated that all the lanes in the toll plazas shall be declared as ‘FASTag lane of the toll plaza’ with effect from midnight of 15-16 February 2021. After the said date, any vehicle that enters the FASTag lane without a FASTag or with an invalid FASTag will be liable to pay twice the applicable fee at the toll plaza.
If you still don’t have a FASTag for your four-wheeler, then here’s how to register for a FASTag for your vehicle.