Nitin Gadkari launches FASTag bank portability feature, skips AI payments

India's Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, launched OneTag, a bank portability feature for the existing NETC FASTag system at the Global Fintech Fest. The new service allows users to keep their current FASTag sticker on their vehicle while switching to their preferred bank for toll payments, a process likened to mobile number portability.

The OneTag feature is described as a completely digital and secure process, executable via the Rajmarg Yatra app. It involves mobile verification, digital KYC, and the creation of a digital wallet. Once the bank is switched, future toll payments will be processed by the new bank, while the existing FASTag sticker remains functional.

During the event, Gadkari also announced a goal to eliminate toll plazas nationwide within one year. The objective is to transition to a Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) system. He indicated that 60-70% of the work would be completed by December, with the entire country expected to have a barrier-free tolling system by February-March 2027. This system is designed to allow traffic to pass at speeds up to 80 km/h without stopping.

Minister Gadkari also highlighted the economic and time-saving benefits of the current FASTag system. Previous estimates suggest that the system saves 71 million hours and 56 million liters of fuel annually, translating to an economic value of approximately Rs 68,500 crore per year.