Big Changes Coming to FASTag! Now Pay for Parking, EV Charging, and Insurance Along with Tolls — Know When You'll Benefit

The Indian government is preparing for a major upgrade to the FASTag system. Originally introduced to enable seamless toll payments, FASTag is now set to become a multi-utility digital payment tool for vehicle owners. Soon, you'll be able to use your FASTag not just for tolls but also for:

• Electric Vehicle (EV) charging

• Parking fees

• Vehicle insurance payments

🚗 What’s the Government Planning?

To expand FASTag beyond just toll payments, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, through Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), recently conducted a workshop with top fintech companies. The goal? To explore ways to integrate more services into the FASTag ecosystem.

The initiative is aligned with the vision of Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, who wants to make FASTag a central platform for all digital vehicular transactions across the country.

🔄 Seamless Tolling with MLFF Technology

The government is also pushing for Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling. This will allow toll payments without stopping, using a combination of:

• High-performance RFID readers

• Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras

These technologies will automatically detect FASTag and vehicle registration numbers. Road Secretary V. Umashankar said this will make toll collection completely cashless, faster, more secure, and error-free.

🏦 What Fintech Firms Will Do

Fintech players are expected to:

• Bring new technology for payments

• Help integrate services like EV charging and parking

• Offer smoother customer grievance redressal

• Ensure security and compliance

📊 FASTag in India — Where We Stand

• Total toll plazas using FASTag: 1,728

  • 1,113 on National Highways

  • 615 on State Highways

• Share of toll collected via FASTag: 98.5%

• FASTags issued: Over 11.04 crore (by 38+ banks)

📅 When Will This Roll Out?

While an exact date hasn’t been announced yet, the government has confirmed that it is actively planning the implementation of these features in phases. A detailed roadmap is expected to be revealed later this year.

🟢 Why It Matters to You

• One payment platform for toll, parking, EV charging, and insurance

• Less cash handling, fewer queues, and reduced travel time

• Greater transparency and convenience