Maharashtra Government Makes FASTag Mandatory for All Vehicles from April 1
Mumbai, 8th January 2025: The Maharashtra government has announced that FASTag stickers will become mandatory for all vehicles across the state starting April 1, 2025. The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, with the Public Works Department (PWD) set to amend the Public Private Partnership Policy-2014 to facilitate the rollout of this rule.
FASTag is a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-based technology that enables seamless toll payments by automatically deducting charges from linked bank accounts or digital wallets. This system, managed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), aims to minimize human intervention at toll plazas and ensure faster and more efficient toll collection.
The technology was introduced in 2019 for certain categories of vehicles and became mandatory nationwide for four-wheelers on January 1, 2021. It was also mandated under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, for all four-wheelers purchased after December 1, 2017, and for the renewal of vehicle fitness certificates. However, the implementation of FASTag in Maharashtra has been inconsistent, prompting the state government to take decisive action to enforce compliance.
“With FASTag, we aim to streamline toll payments, reduce congestion at toll plazas, and improve the overall efficiency of the transportation system in Maharashtra,” a senior government official stated. “This move will not only save time for motorists but also help reduce fuel wastage caused by long queues at toll booths.”
The government highlighted several advantages of making FASTag mandatory across the state. By eliminating cash transactions at toll plazas, the system ensures quicker movement of vehicles, reduces traffic bottlenecks, and promotes a more transparent toll collection process. Officials also noted that the widespread adoption of FASTag would lead to lower operational costs for toll operators and enhance revenue collection accuracy.
Transport experts have welcomed the move, calling it a much-needed step toward modernizing the state’s infrastructure. “Maharashtra’s full adoption of FASTag will align the state with national standards and significantly improve the commuting experience for its citizens,” said an expert on transportation policies.
The PWD will work with stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition to the mandatory FASTag system, with awareness campaigns planned to educate vehicle owners about the change.
The Maharashtra government’s decision is expected to bring uniformity to toll collection and further integrate the state’s transport system with the rest of the country.
