NHAI to Sign Pacts with 3 Petroleum Marketing Companies for FASTags Dispensing to Gas Pump Outlets

New Delhi: NHAI will sign pacts with state-owned oil trading companies – IOC, BPCL and HPCL – on Monday to ensure the availability of FASTags in Petrol pump outlets in India, the Ministry of Transportation said Saturday. Promoted by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), India's Highways Management (IHMCL) has been tasked with implementing the national electronic toll collection program (NETC) in the country, under the brand name "FASTag".

"To ensure IHMCL signed an agreement protocol with the oil marketing companies (IOCL, BPCL and HPCL) on January 7, 2019," said the ministry, stating that this would ensure the availability of FASTags in Indian service stations. In the first phase, the labels will be available in 50 service stations in Delhi in the NCR, which will then be extended to retail outlets in India, the statement said.

Currently, certified banks do not issue FASTags through limited channels such as outlets in NH toll stations, online, in some bank branches, and so on. FASTags is currently operational in more than 450 toll stations along national highways and some national toll plazas.

"Recent measures taken by governments, such as the proposed integration of FASTag GST The acceptance of FASTag in all toll platforms in India has created an urgent need to intensify the FASTag's marketing channels These agreement protocols will help IHMCL to meet changing market expectations, "the ministry said.

In addition, IMHCL also plans to launch two mobile applications – MyFASTag and IHMCLPOS. These applications will allow customers to link FASTags to their preferred bank account, reload FASTag via the UPI platform and ensure the banking neutrality of tags.

IHMCL also strives to realize One Nation One Tag's vision by aligning itself with various national authorities / SPVs to ensure that FASTag becomes the preferred digital payment instrument in places public / municipal.

Twenty-six toll plazas in Maharashtra Madhya Pradesh and Hyderabad have already been covered by this program, while discussions are underway with other government agencies, he added.