In March 2020, the Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari, announced that the government will start a GPS-based toll collection system within a year. Currently, the toll collection on national and state highways happens mostly via FASTag, an electronic toll-collection system. Cars without FASTagsare charged twice the applicable toll amount. Over 90 percent of vehicles in India have a FASTag.
If the government follows through, toll-booths would be relics of the past. The government plans to track vehicles via GPS and charge the applicable toll. As of now, it is unclear how the new system will work? Possibly, you may have to pay a charge per kilometer of travel on highways. Alternatively, it could be similar to the present arrangement where you pay only if you cross a physical toll-booth.
Removing the most hectic part of long-distance travel, the government had started the FASTag system in 2016. It has recently been made compulsory for new vehicles while the owners of older vehicles can purchase one. If a GPS-enabled system leads to the removal of toll plazas, we would have hassle-free passage across the national and state highway system.
While we wait for the government to establish a new system, why not take a vacation, or just a weekend away. You must be eager to take some time away from home after being locked in for over a year. Before that, get your FASTag if you haven’t done so already.
FASTag compulsory for car insurance
As per the Motor Vehicles Act, it is mandatory to have third-party insurance for all vehicles. However, it is always a wise strategy to go for a comprehensive car insurance policy to have an additional layer of protection. Owning a car is a dream come true for anyone, you should always make sure that you are covered for personal injuries to the driver and the passengers, legal liabilities to third parties, and damages to your precious car. Even if you are the safest driver in the world, you should have good car insurance, because you can never predict the behavior of other drivers. Moreover, there is always a risk from natural calamities.
From April 1, 2021, four-wheelers must have a FASTagfor buying or renewing third-party insurance. Vehicles without a valid FASTagcould face fine of up to 4,000 rupees. Getting a FASTagis convenient and saves you a lot of time, and from now on, you won’t be able to secure yourself against unknown risks if you do not have one.
Once you have got your FASTag, figuring out the right car insurance policy is not easy. With so many options available online and offline, you could be easily stumped. It is usually cheaper to buy a policy online. If you don’t know where to begin, Finserv MARKETS could help. You can check their car insurance calculator which will give you instant quotes based on your inputs. With services including instant claim settlement, round-the-clock customer care, and cashless service across garages, they have a few of the best vehicle insurance options.
