FASTag deadline extended by govt! Know date when you must buy it

FASTag deadline: In a relief to those who have not yet updated this feature on their vehicles, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has extended the FASTag deadline. Use of 

FASTag is mandatory for all four-wheelers on the National Highway. FASTag last date is February 15, 2021 and that is the date by which you will have to buy it or else you could be penalised.

Earlier, FASTag was made mandatory for all four-wheel vehicles from January 1, 2021. FASTag has become mandatory for M and N class four-wheelers sold before December 1, 2017. For this, the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 were amended. The ministry issued a notification regarding this on November 6.  
Even National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) early on Wednesday reminded four-wheeler owners to get their FASTag done.

It had tweeted on Wednesday, “#Enter2021WithFASTag. Mark the date and don’t act late. Just a day left to digitalize your toll payments, get your FASTag today. Over 40,000 points of sale at the toll plazas have been set-up across the country, in partnership with 26 banks! #NHAI #FASTagLife (sic).”

See Zee Business Live TV Streaming Below:

Enumerating its benefits, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had said, it is useful for the commuters as they will not need to stop at toll plazas for cash payments. It also saves time and fuel. The FASTags were launched in the year 2016, and four banks together issued nearly a lakh of them. By 2017, their numbers went up to seven lakh. Over 34 lakh FASTags were issued in 2018.

As per Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, since December 1, 2017, the FASTag had been made mandatory for all registration of new four-wheeled Vehicles and is being supplied by the Vehicle Manufacturer or their dealers.  

It had further been mandated that the renewal of fitness certificate will be done only after the fitment of FASTag for the Transport Vehicles. For National Permit Vehicles, the fitment of FASTag was mandated since October 1, 2019.  

It has also been mandated that a valid FASTag is mandatory while getting new third party insurance through an amendment in FORM 51 (certificate of Insurance), wherein the details of

FASTag ID shall be captured. This shall be applicable w.e.f. 1 April 2021.