FASTAG: Alternate uses of FASTAG

Abstract

Introduction: The idea for this project stemmed from the diverse nature of payments systems in India for different purposes. FASTag is a RFID tag-based system that is linked to a preloaded account. It comes in the form of a sticker which can be affixed to any part of a car, usually the windshield. It is used to collect toll charges across all major highways in India. FASTag provides a seamless way to collect the toll without having to stop at the toll plazas. this helps save a lot of time and fuel, besides making the process hassle free for the commuters who pass through the toll gates. Earlier, the toll collection process was manual and troublesome for exact changes etc, besides causing a traffic pile up. Ever since the FASTag was made mandatory by the government, there has been a possibility of exploring alternate uses for it. As All registered vehicle owners will anyway make account, it would make sense to have more users for the same tag in places other than highways. We started looking at other places where the use of vehicle is primary or reasonable. This project aims to explore the alternate uses for the FASTag and come up with use cases where the same infrastructure can be used with minimal modifications to provide a unified system of payment out of home. Project Definition and Scope: The scope of the project would be to find use cases involving the presence of FASTag attached vehicles. An extension of the project would be to find out cases weather tag is not attached the windshield and are still used as a payment proposition. In a COVID hit pandemic world, where minimal contact and social distancing are the norm, a contactless payment system with the established FASTag infrastructure can help mitigate any infection fears from payment.