FASTag mandatory from Jan 1, commuters won't be required to stop at toll plazas ANI | Updated: Dec 24, 2020 21:45 IST New Delhi [India], December 24 (ANI): Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday announced that FASTag is being made mandatory for all vehicles in the country from the new year. Enumerating its benefits, he said, it is useful for the commuters as they will not need to stop at toll plazas for cash payments and it also saves time and fuel. The FASTags were launched in the year 2016, and four banks together issued nearly a lakh of them. By 2017, their numbers went up to seven lakh. Over 34 lakh FASTags were issued in 2018, according to a release.