Andhra govt made FASTag mandatory for third party vehicle insurance from April 1, 2021

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has recently issued orders making Fastag mandatory for large and small vehicles in the state from January 1. It has been decided to implement Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system across the country from December 2019 but it has not been possible. After that the implementation of this policy was postponed due to Kovid‌. In this context, the Center has directed all the states to renew their fitness certificates if the vehicle has Fastag from January 1. The amendment to the Central Motor Vehicle Act – 1989 made it clear that every vehicle must have a Fastag‌. Dealers are currently offering Fastag at the time of vehicle purchase itself.

Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh government has issued orders to this effect in the past. The Department of Transport has launched a special drive after the centre issued a notification that vehicles purchased before December 2017 must have Fastag and mandated a Fastag valid for third party insurance from 1 April 2021.

Fastag stickers will be affixed to all vehicles by the end of December. The Department of Transportation has been instructed not to issue a fitness certificate to the vehicle without Fastag. There are 42 toll plazas on national highways in Andhra Pradesh. Of these, 75 per cent have so far set up fastag lines and 25 per cent have lines set up for payment. Orders were issued to set up all Fastag‌ lines from now on.

There are 16 toll plazas on state highways. Earlier, the Union Roads Ministry had said that 70 per cent of the cost would be borne by the centre. With this, AP Road Development Corporation will set up ETC routes on state highways.