RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID)

• FASTag is a digital toll payment mechanism jointly overseen by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The FASTag is typically affixed to a vehicle's windshield and was initially introduced in 2014 as a test initiative. It became compulsory for toll collection across all national highways in 2021.

• The system operates using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, which enables interaction between the FASTag and electronic sensors at toll booths. As a vehicle passes through a toll gate, the toll fee is automatically debited from the associated bank account or digital wallet linked to the FASTag.

• RFID is a form of wireless identification that comprises tags and reading devices. It uses radio waves to relay details such as identification or status of an item or person to a nearby reader—either handheld or installed at fixed locations like structures or poles. These tags can include encrypted data, unique serial numbers, or brief descriptors. Some tags, particularly those used in the aviation sector, can store large volumes of data.

• RFID tags are categorized into three types: passive, semi-passive, and active. Active RFID tags have their own power source, typically a battery, allowing them to send signals periodically or when they detect a nearby reader. In contrast, passive RFID tags lack a power source and rely on the electromagnetic energy emitted by the reader to function. These passive tags are the type employed in the FASTag system. Semi-passive tags have internal circuitry and power, but still depend on the reader’s signal to respond.

• RFID systems function through an antenna and a microchip, which together communicate with a reader by emitting radio signals. These systems operate at various frequency bands including low (LF), high (HF), and ultra-high frequencies (UHF). The signals received from the tags are then decoded into usable information by a computer system

ANPR FASTag System (AFS) is an advanced toll collection mechanism that integrates Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology with the existing FASTag infrastructure to enable seamless and contactless toll payment.

Unlike traditional FASTag systems, where RFID tags on a vehicle's windshield are scanned by sensors at toll plazas, AFS uses high-resolution cameras to automatically read vehicle registration numbers. These cameras are equipped with software that captures and processes images of license plates as vehicles approach toll booths or designated gantries.

The ANPR system cross-verifies the vehicle’s registration details with the FASTag database, which includes the vehicle’s number and linked payment account. Once a match is found, the toll amount is automatically deducted from the corresponding FASTag wallet or bank account—without requiring a physical RFID scan.

Key Features:

• Contactless Tolling: Vehicles don’t need to slow down or stop for RFID scanning.

• No Tag Dependency: Even if the FASTag is damaged or unreadable, the toll can still be collected using the vehicle’s number plate.

• Real-time Verification: AFS enhances enforcement by checking vehicle compliance (e.g., tag validity, blacklisted status) in real-time.

• Reduced Congestion: Faster vehicle movement through toll plazas due to camera-based number recognition.